Hydrogeologic aspects of contamination by high chloride wastes in Ohio

Conclusions

Local contamination caused by the disposal of oil-field brines and other industrial wastes can result in serious economic hardships where domestic, municipal, or indutrial wells are affected. In many areas streams also may be affected by the discharge of contaminated ground water or by discharge of wastes directly into the water course. In those areas where precipitation is high, and the strata are relatively permeable and near a drain, whether it be a well, spring or stream, the contaminated water may be rapidly discharged, as is evidently true at Delaware. On the other hand, where localized deposits of sand or gravel comprise one or several aquifers within an area of otherwise low permeability, and under low hydraulic gradients, the natural cleansing of the aquifer may require decades, hundreds, or even thousands of years. Considerations such as these are of profound significance in legal actions and will have important ramifications in the awarding of damages in ground-water contamination suits. In some cases, high concentrations of chloride in surface- or ground- water supplies may not reflect contamination by oil-field brines. Cases such as these may reflect natural conditions or disposal of other industrial wastes.