Ground water in Minnesota

Abstract

Ground water is the major source of water supply in Minnesota. The quantity, quality, and availability vary greatly throughout the State. This study describes the State's groundwater resources as found in each of seven major drainage basins. Water is obtained from Quaternary glacial deposits and bedrock aquifers. Most supplies are from the drift except in the southeastern and extreme northeastern parts of the State. In the southeastern part, large quantities of water are withdrawn from sedimentary bedrock aquifers. In the northeastern part, Precambrian igneous and metamorphic rocks underlie the drift and groundwater availability is poor. Large quantities of water are available from surficial outwash, particularly in the central part of the State. Buried outwash aquifers are difficult to locate, delineate, and evaluate. Accordingly, few have been mapped. Water quality in much of the State is suitable for most uses. Ground water is typically hard and high in iron, Water from deep drift and bedrock in the western part of the State is highly mineralized. It may contain excessive amounts of some constituents, such as sodium, chloride, sulfate, boron, and iron. Most groundwater use is centered around cities, the largest amounts being withdrawn in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Increasing amounts are being used for irrigation, most being obtained from shallow wells in the surficial outwash deposits. Although Minnesota is generally rich in groundwater resources, it is not without associated problems. In the western part of the State, groundwater quality is often a problem, especially in deep aquifers. Throughout the State, few buried outwash aquifers have been delineated or evaluated as to their water-yielding capabilities. Some aquifers are highly susceptible to pollution. Planned development and monitoring of water levels and water quality would be beneficial.

Ground-water availability from surficial aquifers in the Red River of the North Basin, Minnesota

“…Stark and others, 1991 Bidwell and others, 1970 x x Cotter and others, 1966 x Larson and others, 1975 x Lindholm and Norvitch, 1976 x…”

Water-quality assessment of part of the Upper Mississippi River Basin, Minnesota and Wisconsin — Review of selected literature

“…3) of Precambrian-Cenozoic age in Minnesota. Generalized hydrogeology and the quality of water in the major aquifers in Minnesota were summarized in USGS reports by Anderson (1986); Lindholm and Norvitch (1976); Ruhl (1987); Ruhl and others (1982); Ruhl andWolf (1983,1984); and Woodward and Anderson (1986). Delin and Woodward (1984) and Woodward (1986) described the hydrogeologic setting, hydraulic properties, and potentiometric surfaces of regional aquifers in the Hollandale Embayment ( fig.…”

Simulation of effects of ground-water development on water-levels in glacial-drift aquifers in the Brooten-Belgrade area, west-central Minnesota

“…A general description of the geology and ground water in Pope and Stearns Counties is included in a report by Allison (1932). A general description of ground water in the study area is provided by Lindholm and Norvitch (1976). A general description of the geology and water resources of the study area is presented in the hydrologic atlases of the Crow River watershed by Lindholm and others (1974), the Chippewa River watershed by Cotter and others (1968), and Mississippi and Sauk Rivers watershed by Helgesen and others (1975).…”