GROUND-WATER-QUALITY DATA FOR ALBANY AND SURROUNDING AREAS, SOUTHWEST GEORGIA, 1951-99

This report presents ground-water-quality data from the surficial, Upper Floridan, Claiborne, Clayton, and Upper Cretaceous aquifers in the Albany and surrounding areas of southwest Georgia. Water-quality data from about 186 wells in Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell, and Worth Counties are presented for the period from 1951 through 1999. The data include field water-quality parameters collected during 1951–99, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds collected during 1981–97, inorganic compounds collected during 1951-99, trace metals collected during 1964-99, radiochemicals collected during 1993–95, herbicides and insecticides collected during 1980–97, and recovery data for laboratory surrogate compounds (used for quality control and quality assurance for organic samples) collected during 1993–97. Ground-waterquality data are presented in tables by data type and arranged by well number. Illustrations in this report contain information about study area location, well location, stratigraphy, and formation water-bearing properties. Ground-water-quality data are presented in text files and in a data base that includes geographic and tabular data. Data presented in this report provide a base with which to better define and interpret the quality of ground water in Albany, Ga. , and surrounding areas. Although some of these data may have been published in previous reports associated with water-resources investigations, water-quality data are compiled as a useful resource. 1 GROUND-WATER-QUALITY DATA FOR ALBANY AND SURROUNDING AREAS, SOUTHWEST GEORGIA, 1951–99 by Debbie Warner, Jaime A. Easoz, and Sherlyn Priest INTRODUCTION Concern over the protection of water supply from the Upper Floridan, Claiborne, Clayton, and Providence aquifers has prompted the Albany Water, Gas, and Light Commission (WGL) to monitor the long-term groundwater quality in these aquifers. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with WGL, has collected ground-water samples for water-quality analyses in the Albany area since 1951. Some of these water-quality data have been published in interpretive reports, but these reports generally do not present all data collected during a study. This report provides a compilation and documentation of ground-water-quality data for the Albany and surrounding areas of southwest Georgia for 1951–99. Purpose and Scope This report presents ground-water-quality data collected from 186 wells in Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell, and Worth Counties from 1951–99 (fig. 1a; wells in Dougherty County are identified in fig. 1b). The frequency of data collection and types of water-quality analyses vary according to the various objectives of the water-resources investigations conducted throughout the period 1951–99. Wellconstruction and water-quality data are grouped by data type and arranged by well number. These data are presented as text files in an ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) data base that includes geographic and tabular data. The ArcView format allows a user to view the data spatially and query the data of interest; and allows a user without access to ArcView to view the data tables through a text format. Description of Study Area The Albany, Ga. , area is located in southwestern Georgia in the Coastal Plain physiographic province (fig. 1a). Seven counties—Baker, Calhoun, Dougherty, Lee, Mitchell, Terrell, and Worth—comprise the generally flat to gently rolling study area. The area is characterized by karst topography and marked by numerous sinkholes (Hicks and others, 1987). Land use in the study area is predominantly agricultural and residential. Agricultural areas include cropland, pasture, orchards, and nurseries. Residences primarily use private septic-tank systems. Various use industries are located in and around the Albany city limits (Stewart and others, 1999). Well-Naming System In this report, wells are numbered using a system based on USGS 7-1/2-minute topographic quadrangle maps. Each topographic map in Georgia has been assigned a number and letter designation beginning at the southwestern corner of the State. Numbers increase eastward through 39; letters advance northward through “Z,” then double-letter designations “AA” through “PP” are used. The letters “I,” “O,” “II,” and “OO” are not used. Wells inventoried in each quadrangle are numbered sequentially beginning with “1. ” Thus, the 123 rd well inventoried in the Baconton North quadrangle (designated 12K) in Dougherty County is designated as well 12K123. Acknowledgments Special thanks goes to Mr. Lemuel O. Edwards, General Manager of the Albany Water, Gas, and Light Commission, for support and assistance. Appreciation also is extended to the many cordial land owners who allowed access to their properties for data collection throughout the period 1951-99. The authors also thank the many individuals from the USGS who assisted in the successful completion of this report. HYDROGEOLOGY A detailed description of the hydrogeology of the Albany area is beyond the scope of this report. However, the hydrogeology summarized below is based on previous investigations as cited. Four principal aquifers supply water to Albany and the surrounding areas. These are, in descending order, the Upper Floridan (locally called the Ocala aquifer and formerly called the principal artesian aquifer), Claiborne (formerly called the Tallahatta), Clayton, and Providence aquifers. The surficial aquifer is not considered a principal aquifer; however, water-quality data from the surficial aquifer (the uppermost aquifer in the area) are included in this report. The Providence aquifer is part of the Upper Cretaceous aquifer system which also includes the Ripley Formation and the upper part of the Cusseta Sand. This report includes data from three wells open to multiple aquifers in the Upper Cretaceous aquifer system and one well open to the Ripley Formation. Generalized stratigraphy and hydrogeology of the Albany and surrounding areas are shown in figure 2.