Groundwater recharge involves the addition of water to a groundwater reservoir as precipitation infiltrates the ground surface downward toward the water table. This process is necessary as we require groundwater to grow food and supply us with fresh drinking water. The Borough of Madison labels a groundwater recharge area as an “Environmentally Critical Area” under Article VI Environmental Protection of the Borough Code. Groundwater recharge areas are subject to contamination from industrial, urban, and agricultural sources. The USGS provides examples of contaminant sources, such as leakage from fuel tanks, pesticides applied to lawns, and leakage from waste-disposal sites. The bacteria and chemicals that end up in groundwater recharge areas can then impact human health when the water is pumped to drink or to use on crops.
Knowing the state and quality of groundwater, which is vital as a source of potable drinking water for both humans and nonhumans, enables residents to accurately advocate for the health of themselves and the environment they live in. The map displayed here presents the most recent estimates of known contaminated sites, as well as of groundwater recharge amounts, generated by the NJDEP Bureau of GIS.
The majority of Madison contains areas with groundwater recharge values of 11 to 15 in/yr (light blue), followed by areas with 16 to 23 in/yr (dark blue), and areas with 1 to 7 in/yr (yellow). The map indicates that the more congested areas of Madison tend to contain lower groundwater recharge values, which may result from the greater amount of impervious cover. Also, certain areas within the Madison boundary contain hydric soils (light gray), which support vegetative growth within wetlands (dark gray). Along with the groundwater recharge areas, the map also indicates the location of sites with Site Remediation Programs for groundwater contamination. Sites designated with a complexity level of C1 (purple), which have no formal design in place for remediation and have potential for groundwater contamination, include Drew University, Fairleigh Dickinson University, the Madison Area YMCA, houses, Bayley-Ellard Field, and a Starbucks. Sites designated with a complexity level of C2 (red), which have a formal design in place for remediation and are known sources or releases with groundwater contamination, include car service centers, gas stations, the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building, and an estate. Overall, there are 8 C1 sites and 9 C2 sites in Madison.
As groundwater provides a necessary source of drinking water, its allocation will impact members of a community. As described in “The Social-Environmental Justice of Groundwater Governance” chapter of Integrated Groundwater Management, members of marginal communities and the natural environment tend to lose in battles over allocation. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor groundwater recharge areas to ensure equity. Along with the location of these areas, it is necessary to monitor locations of the potential or current release of groundwater contamination. The presence of this contamination has been the topic of many lawsuits, such as the NJDEP’s suit against Hexcel Corporation, which impacted members of the low-income and minority population. Groundwater contamination needs to be monitored to protect people’s health and to ensure that certain groups of people are not unjustly overburdened by contamination.
About the Data Source:
Known contamination site list for New Jersey from the Known Contaminated Sites in New Jersey 2023 Report was created by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The NJDEP is a state agency which is responsible for protecting New Jersey’s environment and public health. The Known Contaminated Sites in New Jersey 2023 Report was created in response to N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.16-17, which is known as the Spill Compensation and Control Act. The Spill Compensation and Control Act requires the provision of all known sites impacted by hazardous substances. The New Jersey groundwater recharge areas in New Jersey created in response to N.J.S.A 58:11A, 12-16 et seq. was created by the NJDEP. N.J.S.A 58:11A, 12-16 et seq. is part of the 2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes Title 58 on Waters and Water Supply. Specifically, 12-16 refers to defining aquifer recharge area, methodology, a map of aquifer recharge areas, map and methodology as guidance, and the provided rules and regulations. The groundwater recharge data was estimated using processes from the New Jersey Geological Survey GSR-32. The known contamination data layer, as well as the groundwater recharge areas data layer shown in the map above is updated and distributed by the NJDEP Bureau of GIS. The datasets can be found online here and here, respectively.
To download a one-page slide for this summary on groundwater recharge and contamination, click here.
This text was last reviewed on 03-01-23. NJDEP map layers may contain more recently updated and modified information.
Suggested Citation: Groundwater Recharge and Contamination (2023, March 01). madisoneri.org. Retrieved [insert date of retrieval in the following format: March 01, 2023], from https://madisoneri.org/map-drawer/water/groundwater-recharge-and-contamination/
