From Aquifer to Tap: The McBaine Bottoms and Columbia’s Drinking Water
Published: February 11, 2014
Presentation by Alex Dzurick, Energy Educator with Columbia Water and Light
This presentation was originally given on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at Les Bourgeois Bistro, Rocheport, MO.
Alex Dzurick from Columbia Water and Light discussed Columbia’s drinking water source, the alluvial aquifer beneath the McBaine Bottoms.
On top of the agricultural productivity gained from irrigation and predictable flooding, rivers have also been the major source of potable water since the dawn of humanity. Today, as erosion and contamination threaten our water supply, we rely on treated water to serve our needs. Luckily for those of us in Columbia, a natural alluvial aquifer in the McBaine Bottoms serves as the first step in the filtration of potable water.
Formed from glacial deposits along the river’s edge, this aquifer holds 44 billion gallons of naturally filtered water, which is then secondarily treated at the City’s water treatment plant before being piped to customers. Thanks to the aquifer, the water in Columbia is of very high quality and exceeds the water quality standards set by the EPA.
Alex Dzurick from Columbia Water and Light discussed Columbia’s drinking water source, the alluvial aquifer beneath the McBaine Bottoms.
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Downloads
Resources and Links
Here are some more resources to dig deeper into this topic:
- Click here to download pdf of presentation.
- 2013 Water Quality Report, Columbia Water & Light
- Columbia Source Water Protection Plan (pdf)
- Aquifer Terminology
- USGS Report on Missouri River Alluvial Ground Water Protection
- “Flood of 93 Threatened Columbia Water Treatment Plant” – article in 20-year retrospective series in Columbia Tribune, July 30, 2013.
- Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area
- Groundwater Resources of Missouri book (from Missouri DNR): http://www.dnr.mo.gov/pubs/WR46.pdf
- Census of Missouri Public Water Systems (also DNR): http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/census.htm
- Michigan Tech website on aquifers: http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module06/title.htm
The Big Muddy Speaker Series in Rocheport
is hosted by these wonderful partners.
- Missouri River Relief
- Friends of Big Muddy
- Columbia Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (USFWS)
- Les Bourgeois Vineyards
- Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge
Special thanks to Les Bourgeois Vineyards for giving us the opportunity to use their beautiful space overlooking the Missouri River.
All speakers are presenting for free! Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with us!
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The Big Muddy Speaker Series also takes place monthly in Kansas City and St. Charles.
The Big Muddy Speaker Series is partially funded by the Columbia Ecological Services Field Office (USFWS) and the Mo. Dept. of Conservation.