Analysis of Groundwater Monitoring of Residential Wells In the Vicinity of Carbon Limestone Landfill, Poland Township, Mahoning County, Ohio

Abstract

This research analyzed test results of private groundwater wells within a one mile radius of the Carbon Limestone Landfill (CLL) located in Poland Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, with the objective of determining the impact the CLL had on groundwater quality over a sampling period of May 2003 -- September 2010. Data was collected by the Mahoning County Board of Health District as a part of the Groundwater Surveillance in the Vicinity of Mahoning County Landfills project. The data collected from the Board of Health contained all results from participating wells, which began in 2003. Analysis of the data included creating time-series graphs of each parameter tested for individual wells using Microsoft Excel graphing capabilities, as well as mapping the concentrations using ArcGIS to illustrate any changes to the groundwater over time. Both time-series graphing and ArcGIS mapping analyses suggest that no impacts to the local groundwater by the Carbon Limestone Landfill were shown during the May 2003 -- September 2010 sampling period. The inclusion of on-site data from Carbon Limestone Landfill monitoring wells for four discrete dates, however, show possible migrations of certain chemical constitutes from the landfill. Continued monitoring and incorporation of more recent on-site sampling data is needed to fully evaluate the possible relationships of on-site water quality to off-site (residential) water quality.