Gotta ‘Go’ with the Flow
A porta potty is not exactly subtle. So when one appears at a proposed mine site, people notice.
On Friday, April 18, several Springfield Township residents contacted Oko Environmental after observing a porta potty being delivered to the property today. According to a township source, the delivery is reportedly connected to preparations for an aquifer drawdown test.
An aquifer drawdown test, also called a pumping test, is used to evaluate how an aquifer responds when water is pumped from a well. In general, the test involves pumping groundwater from one well while monitoring water level changes in that well and in nearby observation wells. The purpose is to better understand how groundwater moves through the subsurface and how pumping may affect surrounding groundwater conditions.
Levy/BMC’s application states that the operation would use 22,000 gallons of water per day, along with a one-time annual fill of 135,000 gallons at start-up for the processing plant1.
Since the mining company plans to use water at this rate, this type of test is intended to show how the aquifer responds to that pumping stress, assuming the test is properly designed, placed, and timed.
At this time, there does not appear to be clear public information on basic questions such as when the test will occur, how long the pumping will last (24-48-72 hr), where the test well is located, which additional monitoring wells are being used, and which aquifer (confined-unconfined-both) is being evaluated.
Some residents have also raised concerns about the timing of any possible testing. EGLE guidance indicates that aquifer testing for unconfined aquifers should ideally be conducted when groundwater conditions have not been altered by spring runoff or heavy rainfall2 noting that this typically eliminates the months of March, April, and May. The area has also experienced recent wet conditions, increased precipitation, and localized flooding concerns. Those circumstances have led residents to ask whether the test timing will accurately reflect typical groundwater conditions.
There was also a quieter scene unfolding nearby. Several Sandhill Cranes were taking advantage of the thawed, saturated ground, foraging near the one of the wetland areas. Even as technical work appears to move forward, the landscape continues to support wildlife and wetland-dependent species. Although, I’d much rather take pictures of birds than a porta potty, but doody calls.
If residents see any site activity, feel free to reach out to Oko Environmental so it can be documented and looked into further. Send an email to kara@okoenv.com or call/text 248-483-0183.
At this time, there are no updates on the Township website.
