Brown, J., A. Chanda, R. Dutta, Foos, A. A. Nandi, T. Quick, S. Visocky, and S. Walko, 2000, Hydrogeochemistry of springs in the Sharon Sandstone, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v 32,

ABSTRACT

Glen Trail, Gorge Metropark, Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, runs parallel to an outcrop of the Pennsylvanian, Sharon Sandstone along the Cuyahoga River for approximately 1.5 km. 28 seeps and natural springs with discharges ranging from <.01 to 500 ml/sec were observed along the trail. Springs emerge from fractures, conglomeratic beds within the sandstone and at the contact with the underlying Meadville Shale. Water samples from 8 springs were sampled and analyzed for temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), oxidation-reduction potential, dissolved oxygen, pH, alkalinity, HCO3, Cl, SO4, F, NO3, PO4, Br, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, K, Na, Al and SiO2. TDS ranged from 500 to 1531 mg/l and the standard deviation was high for most variables, indicating extreme variation in the geochemistry of this relatively small system. All samples were undersaturated with respect to gypsum and halite. 6 samples were close to equilibrium and 2 were undersaturated with respect to calcite. There was a general increase in NO3 toward the northeast. Seven of the samples were classified as alkali-chloride rich water using a Piper diagram and the remaining sample was classified as a mixed cation-sulfate rich water. For the alkali-chloride rich samples there was an excellent correlation between TDS and Cl (R2=.95) and the average molar Na/Cl ratio was equal to 1.05 (Std. = .01), suggesting that halite was the primary source of Na and Cl. The Br/Cl ratio was low (.87), which is characteristic of road salt contaminated groundwater. The mixed cation-sulfate rich sample had a low pH (3.36), lower TDS (500 mg/l) and higher concentrations of SO4, Fe, Mn, Al and SiO2. ItsŐ composition suggest extensive water-rock interaction and a longer residence time in the aquifer.
The increase in NO3 to the northeast may be attributed to an increase in anthropogenic input, associated with more development. The high TDS along with the Na/Cl and Br/Cl ratios suggest significant contamination of ground water by road salt. The high variability in water chemistry among the close-proximity springs suggest that fractures control the flow and springs are isolated from each other with minimal mixing.