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AUTHORS: Tara Brooks, Eastern Connecticut State University; Meredith Metcalf, Eastern Connecticut State University
ABSTRACT: As population continues to increase, sustaining the quantity of groundwater in fractured bedrock aquifers of New England will become critical. However, quantifying groundwater in bedrock is difficult due to the complex processes involved. This lack of knowledge on the amount of water available results in homeowners using water at rates that may lead to depletion. This study evaluated the sustainability of the fractured rock aquifer for Lebanon, Connecticut which are aquifers typical within New England. Recharge and discharge rates were calculated using groundwater drainage basins delineated from a digital elevation model and associated well characteristics from well completion reports given the lack of measurements typically monitored. Results indicated that only one groundwater drainage basin was unsustainable and located in northeastern Lebanon. For the town of Lebanon, the average rate of recharge for the groundwater basins delineated exceeded the average rate of groundwater use which implies that majority of residents would be less likely to deplete sources of groundwater. In conclusion, results of this study demonstrated the effectiveness of well data in estimating groundwater sustainability. Additionally, results indicate that groundwater in fractured rock was sustainable in Lebanon most likely because of the lack of development in this area yet the potential for drainage basins to be at risk for becoming unsustainable does exist. Therefore, homeowners should be educated to prevent over use of this critical resource and a system to monitor basins at risk for depletion should be established at the local level.
