Geology topics

William R. Meyer

Publications and source records attributed to William R. Meyer.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1979

Effects of seepage from fly-ash settling ponds and construction dewatering on ground-water levels in the Cowles unit, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana

Part of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore shares a common boundary with the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO). This area is underlain by unconsolidated deposits approximately 180 feet thick. NIPSCO accumulates fly ash from the burning of coal in electric-power generating units in settling ponds. Seepage from the ponds has raised ground-water levels above natural levels approximately 15 feet under the ponds and more than 10 feet within the Lakeshore. NIPSCO is presently (1977) constructing a nuclear powerplant, and construction activities include pumping ground water to dewater the construction site. The company has installed a slurry wall around the site to prevent lowering of ground-water levels within the Lakeshore. Plans call for continuous pumping through at least December 1979. A multilayered digital flow model was constructed to simulate the ground-water system. The model was used to demonstrate the effects of seepage from the fly-ash ponds on ground-water levels. Also, the model indicated a decline of 3 feet or less in the upper sand unit and 5 feet or less in the lower sand unit within the Lakeshore.

Indiana↗

USGS1979

Geohydrologic setting of and seepage from a water-supply canal, Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana

The Indianapolis Water Company Canal is underlain by alluvial and outwash deposits. The water level in the canal on July 21, 1978, was above the water table along the entire reach of the canal upstream from the Fall Creek aqueduct, and, therefore, water was seeping downward from the canal into these deposits along this entire reach. Because of the highly variable lithology of the deposits underlying the canal, the seepage rate was probably also highly variable. Discharge measurements were made at selected points along the canal, and differences between successive measurements were calculated to determine the rate of water loss. The differences were smaller than the potential error in any of the measurements, however, and thus do not directly substantiate that water is being lost. The rate of water loss over the Fall Creek aqueduct by the skimming process could be as high as 43 cubic feet per second, assuming a 5% potential error for discharge measurements made at both ends of the aqueduct. Lower stages and water temperatures would decrease the rate of water loss. Observed ground-water levels were above the canal bottom at three locations along the canal. Lowering these levels below the bottom would increase seepage by approximately 9 cubic feet per second.

Indiana↗