The once predominately rural and agricultural Pine Run drainage basin, located near Doylestown in Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is experiencing urbanization at an accelerating rate. In this study geologic, hydrologic, and water quality data were collected, between March 1987 and May 1988, and used to examine the hydrogeology of the Pine Run Basin. Approximately 93% of the basin is underlain by the Stockton Formation which consists of a generally fining-upward sequence of arkosic sandstone and conglomerate, siltstone, and shale. The few outcrops display lensing and interbedding between lithologies. The Lockatong Formation which is composed of a red-brown or blue-gray siltstone, shale, and argillite underlies approximately 7% of the basin. The general strike of the bedding is S55°W and the average dip is 12° toward the northwest. A diabase dike which has a general northeast-southwest trend cuts the upper shale member of the Stockton Formation and the Lockatong Formation. The arkose and well-cemented siltstone contain near vertical joint sets which contribute to the porosity and permeability of the rock. Pumping tests conducted at a well field on the north shore of the Pine Run Reservoir indicate the presence of a recharge boundary and suggest that induced recharge had occurred. Transmissivity values were calculated to be between 1872 gpd/ft. and 5955 gpd/ft. Storativity values were found to be between 3.5e-04 and 6.4e-05. The range of transmissivity and storativity values is due to the lithologic heterogeneity of the Stockton Formation. Arkose was the predominant water producer, but some siltstone units also produced an appreciable amount. Stream discharge was measured at four gaging stations and the groundwater storage changes were measured at ten wells over the study period. A hydrologic budget was constructed, using hydrologic and climatic data, in order to calculate recharge rates. The annual basin recharge rate was approximately 216,000 gpd/sq. mile which is low and reflects the below normal precipitation and the timing of the precipitation. The basin experienced its highest recharge rate in February (1.6e06 gpd/sq. mile) and its greatest storage loss in August (-1.7e06 gpd/sq. mile). During the growing season the upper subbasin had the highest baseflow/sq. mile while during the dormant season the subbasin containing the reservoir had the highest baseflow/sq. mile. This reservoir appears to act as an artificial recharge basin during the dormant season. The mean stream water temperature was found to be 14.34°C, ranging from 0° to 27.2°C. The mean pH of the stream water was 7.1 and the mean alkalinity was 26.81 ppm of bicarbonate. The specific conductance of the stream water was highest during the dormant season, with a mean specific conductance of 114.85 micromhos/cm, and lowest during the growing season, with a mean specific conductance of 104.05 micromhos/cm. These results are opposite to what was expected. The specific conductance ranged from 158.5 to 79 micromhos/cm. An anthropogenic cause is suspected for this behavior but a geologic origin cannot be dismissed. The functional relationship between stream discharge and specific conductance is best described by a log-log model. The mean groundwater temperature was found to be 11.96°C and ranged from 14.2° to 9.7°C. The specific conductance measured at two wells, 125 feet apart, had mean values 130.7 and 138.05 micromhos/cm. One well experienced a maximum of 183 micromhos/cm in November while the other reached a maximum of 180 micromhos/cm in July. Minimum values of 97.5 and 102 micromhos/cm were attained in March and January, respectively, for the same two wells. These variations illustrate the heterogeneity in the geochemistry of the Stockton Formation. The hydrogeology data suggests that the geology of the Pine Run Basin is conducive to artificial recharge either by focusing storm runoff into recharge basins or by pumping groundwater in order to induce recharge. Additionally both hydrogeologic and water quality data indicate the heterogenous nature of the aquifer within the Pine Run drainage basin. / Earth and Environmental Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TEMPLE/oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/8645 |
| Date | January 1990 |
| Creators | Handschin, Charles M. |
| Contributors | Adams, John K., 1939-, Grandstaff, David E., Hill, Mary Louise |
| Publisher | Temple University. Libraries |
| Source Sets | Temple University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation, Image |
| Format | 249 pages |
| Rights | IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available., http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/8609, Digital copy of print original., Theses and Dissertations |
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