Final Draft\gwmp\vol4_rev\appndx-2\waterbal.

doc
May 20, 1997
Volume 4 Appendix 2, Issue Papers
Aquifer Water Balance (WB) 1
Issue paper:
Aquifer Water Balance
1. Introduction And Background
1.1. Purpose and Scope
The population in Kitsap County has grown rapidly in recent years and is expected to
increase substantially in the future. Demand for water will increase with population
growth. Ground water provides over 80% of the total water supply within Kitsap County.
This percentage is expected to increase given the cost and regulatory difficulties in
developing surface water resources. Actual estimates of the amount of ground water
available are important to determining what monitoring is prudent to evaluate the impact
of increased withdrawal on the county's aquifers. This issue paper discusses factors which
affect water balance with aquifers.
1.2. Water Balance
A water balance is an assessment of the major components of a hydrologic system and
includes the interactions between surface water and ground water systems. A water
balance assessment provides a general understanding of the magnitude of the recharge and
discharge components. It does not provide an accurate assessment of surface
water/ ground water interactions and quantities, and should not be relied on as the sole tool
for ground water management. The components of a simplified water balance equation can
be expressed as:
Precipitation = Evapotranspiration + Run-off + Recharge
The water balance components are described as follows:
Precipitation (rainfall) varies dramatically in Kitsap county from less than 30 inches
a year in the North portions of the county to more than 70 inches a year in the
Southwest.
Evapotranspiration is water that is returned to the atmosphere. It consists of the
moisture that is transpired by plants and evaporated from land surface and surface
water bodies. The evaporative losses are highest during the summer when
temperature conditions and plant activity are at a maximum.
Run-off (storm water run-off) is the water that collects on the land surface or
shallow subsurface and flows quickly to the streams, rivers, and other drainage
systems. In Kitsap County, run-off quickly ends up in Puget Sound or Hood Canal.
Over land flows are largest during storm events and are less noticeable during
periods of light rain. The amount of run-off is controlled in part by local soil
Final Draft\gwmp\vol4_rev\appndx-2\waterbal.doc
May 20, 1997
Volume 4 Appendix 2, Issue Papers
Aquifer Water Balance (WB) 2
conditions, topography, and vegetation. Vegetative and porous soils tend to absorb
storm water. In addition, flat surfaces and retention features slow down rates of
over land flow, thereby giving water more time to be absorbed into the soil.
Recharge is the portion of precipitation that is infiltrated into the ground past the
root zone. Recharge percolates down through the soil until it reaches the water table
or an impermeable surface. A large percentage of ground water re-emerges into
lakes and streams, and constitutes surface water base flow. The geology of the
county is such that impermeable layers cause significant amounts of ground water to
move in a horizontal direction toward the sea. Only a small percentage of recharge
infiltrates to the deepest aquifers. Under natural conditions, all of the recharge
eventually will pass to the sea through rivers, streams or by direct discharge via
submarine springs. Water pumped from aquifers interrupts this natural balance.
The amount of recharge is directly affected by the amount of run-off and
evapotranspiration. If run-off is a large component of the water balance, less water
will be available for recharging ground water supplies.
Ranges of values for water balance components were estimated for various sections of the
County during development of the Ground Water Management Plan (GWMP) (refer to
GWMP, Vol. 1, Table II-14). Estimates generally fell in the following ranges:
evapotranspiration 30% to 60%, run-off 10% to 30%, and recharge 25% to 50%. The recent
County basin assessment project used an ET estimate of 38%.
The water balance of an aquifer system is not a fixed condition. It will change seasonally
and from year to year. All the components of the water balance can deviate dramatically
over time from natural and/ or human activities. For example, the long-term average
annual precipitation at Hansville may be 27 inches but in any given year the annual total
can vary significantly from the long-term average value. Changes in run-off and
evapotranspiration may change the water that is available to recharge the ground water
supplies. Clear-cutting, for instance, will decrease the evapotranspiration and could
temporarily increase run-off depending on slope, soil characteristics, and mitigating action
taken.
It is important to understand that the water balance components and ground water
recharge can be significantly influenced either positively or negatively by human activities.
As an example, water from run-off can be retained, treated if necessary, and reintroduced
into the ground water system thereby enhancing natural recharge. Development on the
other hand can have a negative impact on recharge. Urban development of forest lands will
increase impervious surfaces and decrease vegetative cover thus increasing runoff and
altering evapotranspiration rates. The percentage of precipitation which recharges ground
water is reduced by paving or diverting rainwater away from recharge areas. (Note TR-55
US. Soil Conservation Service, Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds, the Changing
Characteristics of the Water Balance Components).
1.3. Aquifer Yield Terminology
Final Draft\gwmp\vol4_rev\appndx-2\waterbal.doc
May 20, 1997
Volume 4 Appendix 2, Issue Papers
Aquifer Water Balance (WB) 3
A number of terms have been coined in an effort to qualitatively address the ground water
yield from an aquifer. Hypothetical Groundwater Yield (HGY) was a term developed in
GWMP, Vol. 1, 1991 (page II-42, and Table II-15) to describe an approximate range in the
amount of ground water that could be potentially developed within areas of the county.
HGY was assumed to represent the amount of water (expressed as a percentage of
precipitation that effectively recharges ground water) that could be safely withdrawn from
the ground water system without resulting in over-drafting. (See the Aquifer Mining and
Over-drafting Issue Paper for additional information). This is also the general definition
given to Safe Sustainable Yield (SSY). (Note: SSY is used in RCWs (RCW 94.44.130)). Some
estimates indicate that as much as 30% to 50% of recharge can be withdrawn without
causing an overdraft of ground water resources. Others estimates are far more conservative
indicating 10 to 20% recharge. HGY is based on recharge quantities that contribute to
shallow aquifer systems. Recharge to deep groundwater systems may be substantially less
than for shallow systems because of the occurrence of confining units which direct
groundwater toward surface water discharge points. The sustainable yield for deeper
aquifers may be only a fraction of the HGY estimates. Please refer to GWMP Vol. I for a full
discussion of the development of HGY.
An earlier study estimated that Kitsap County would experience ground water depletion
(also called over-drafting) between the years 2000 and 2025 (See PRELIMINARY
ASSESSMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND PUBLIC WATER SERVICES ISSUES IN
KITSAP COUNTY, completed by Kitsap County Dept. of Community Development of
Kitsap County and Kitsap Public Utility District #1, 1986.). This assessment used existing
population growth and was based on Safe Deliverable Yield (an earlier variation of HGY).
1.4. County Wide Water Balance
Data analyzed as part of the Kitsap County Basin Assessment and information from
GWMP Vol. I provides estimates for several components of the water balance. An
evaluation of newly collected precipitation data in combination with existing long term
data, resulted in an estimate of 315 billion gallons of rainfall annually. Rainfall either is
evaporated, absorbed (and transpired) by plants, recharged to ground water, or diverted to
run-off which moves to sea through storm drains, streams, or rivers.
The Initial Basin Assessment project estimate of evapotranspiration(ET) was 113 billion
gallons of rainfall evaporating or being absorbed and transpired via vegetation in Kitsap
County on an annual basis. The total annual discharge to sea via storm drains and an
estimate of storm water that discharges to sea via streams and rivers is not available. Total
storm water run-off estimates from various studies in the region run between 15% and 25%
of rainfall or between 47 and 79 billion gallons in Kitsap County. For this analysis, 63
billion gallons per year will be used. Total groundwater recharge based on the precipitation
and evaporation estimates would be approximately 140 billion gallons.
Several things can happen to the estimated 140 billion gallons of recharge that percolates
beneath the root zone :
Final Draft\gwmp\vol4_rev\appndx-2\waterbal.doc
May 20, 1997
Volume 4 Appendix 2, Issue Papers
Aquifer Water Balance (WB) 4
A large percentage of the water that recharges will resurface through springs and seeps
forming the base flow for streams and rivers. Estimates of total base flow for streams
and rivers in the county is not available. Diversion of surface water for beneficial use in
Kitsap County is not extensive. The only major diversion is the City of Bremerton's
Casad Dam which provides 1.8 billion gallons of water per year out of a total surface
water use of approximately 2.4 billion gallons per year. The remaining water demand is
met with ground water. Total surface water rights and claims in the county amount to
3.3 billion gallons of water per year.

Well over fifteen thousand wells extract ground water for various uses. Estimated
annual extraction of ground water in Kitsap County is 9.8 billion gallons per year. Total
ground water rights and claims for the county is 25.4 billion gallons per year. Total
water usage in 1995 is estimated to be approximately 12.2 billion gallons.

A portion of the water extracted from the ground (as well as diverted surface water) is
returned to the ground by irrigation and septic systems. A substantial amount of water
is processed through sewage treatment plants and discharged to sea. Total Sewage
Treatment Plant discharge is estimated to be over 4.8 billion gallons per year.

The remaining recharge flows to Puget Sound and the Hood Canal where it emerges
underwater via submarine springs. The total amount of flow via this path has not been
determined.
Exhibit 1 provides a graphic presentation of the above estimates.
2. Current Laws, Practices And Procedures
2.1. Water Availability Assessment
Of vital interest to ground water administration and growth management is devising a
reasonable method to assess the amount of water available for beneficial use without
causing a depletion of the resource. (Note: Discussion on Water Balance and Recharge in
section G page II-38 Vol. 1 of the GWMP). The Growth Management Act makes local
governments responsible for investigating and determining if enough water is available
before issuing building permits.
Various methods and models are available for estimating water availability, but their
accuracy varies considerably depending on the scope of the assessment (i.e. site specific or
semi-regional), the quantity and quality of available data, and other factors. Given the
complex geologic environment of Kitsap County, the use of comprehensive, sophisticated
computer modeling can provide insight, but at considerable cost.
3. Gaps And Problems
Final Draft\gwmp\vol4_rev\appndx-2\waterbal.doc
May 20, 1997
Volume 4 Appendix 2, Issue Papers
Aquifer Water Balance (WB) 5
3.1. A. Determination of HGY, SSY Estimates Of Aquifer Capability
HGY, SSY and other previous methods of determining water availability within Kitsap
County provide only rough estimates for broad based planning strategies. More rigorous
estimates of water availability will necessitate long-term monitoring of critical water
balance components, a more in-depth characterization of aquifer systems, and detailed
analysis which, in some cases, may include quantitative computer models.
3.2. Data Collection and Monitoring
The Data Collection and Analysis Plan (DCAP) for ground water, July 1989, and Volume 1
of the Kitsap County GWMP, Background Data Collection and Management Issues,
identifies seven Kitsap County aquifers which may be showing signs of overdraft. The
studies also indicate that certain sections of the county could experience water supply
problems early in the next century. These trend assessments are preliminary due to data
limitations. Additional monitoring and analysis of county aquifers need to be conducted.
3.3. Seawater Intrusion
Because the county is surrounded almost entirely by the Hood Canal and Puget Sound and
because rainfall in the northern sections is relatively low, seawater intrusion is a significant
threat. Monitoring and analysis for seawater intrusion as a result of increased water
withdrawal is currently inadequate.
4. Recommendations And Strategies
WB 1. County and city government should gather data on the dynamic nature of the
relationship between land use activities and their impact on surface and ground
water.
WB 2. Kitsap County Public Utility District should develop an educational program for the
public, public officials, and the business community regarding the effects of run-off
on the water balance and the impact development has on storm water and ground
and surface water supplies.
WB 3. County and city government should adopt economical and feasible run-off practices
which enhance ground and surface water supplies.
WB 4. Appropriate government entities should continue to search for policies and practices
that are beneficial to enhancing water supplies.
WB 5. Kitsap County Public Utility District should develop a comprehensive aquifer
monitoring plan that will provide data which can be used to identify over-draft
conditions and facilitate corrective action.
WB 6. County and city government should develop building codes which enhance
retaining and recharging as much run-off as possible.
Final Draft\gwmp\vol4_rev\appndx-2\waterbal.doc
May 20, 1997
Volume 4 Appendix 2, Issue Papers
Aquifer Water Balance (WB) 6
WB 7. County and city governments in conjunction with Ecology, should investigate the
feasibility of collecting and artificially recharging run-off during periods of high
precipitation.
WB 8. Kitsap County Public Utility District should conduct a comprehensive evaluation of
the south and west areas of the county for water supply potential.
WB 9. If County and City governments convert significant numbers of households from
septic to sewer, consideration should be given to reusing treated waste water in
order to compensate for lost recharge from the abandoned septic systems.