Abstract |
The investigation examined the ground-water resources and ground-water-recharge potential of the Greater Springfield Complex--a high-density urban area surrounded by a rural peripheral area that will soon undergo urban development. Highly productive gravel and sand aquifers of glacial outwash underlie parts of the peripheral areas, especially west of East Mountain and in the towns of Granby, Hampden and Wilbraham, Mass. Also, a buried channel of outwash yields copious ground-water supplies which are used by the municipality of South Hadley. This buried channel overlain by poorly permeable silt and clay may contain large undeveloped supplies of ground water in the South Hadley and South Springfield areas. Potential artificial recharge sites occur along areas of glacial outwash in the Greater Springfield Complex. Programs could be developed to recharge surface-water into the aquifers during winter and spring and withdraw the ground water during the heavy water demand periods of summer and fall. Recharge to wells by induced infiltration is possible along some of the tributaries to the Connecticut River such as the Chicopee River, Scantic River, and Great Brook. (Author) |