Ground Water
Omya uses a small fraction–approximately 10% – of its land holdings to support our quarry and mineral processing operations. The remaining acreage contributes to the scenic landscape while supporting Vermont’s heritage, tourism, rural economy, and recreational lifestyles.
Ground and Surface Water Management
We use water as a key component of our processes and we actively recycle the majority of the water we use. We are committed continually to improve our water conservation and recycling efforts.
Operations at the Verpol facility take advantage of a water management system that maximizes recycling and reduces our reliance on Florence’s municipal water source. The primary source of water used in the process is gathered from an onsite quarry called Pittsford Italian Quarry (PIQ). The PIQ is an open quarry used to store surface and storm water that is collected passively and/or pumped from numerous site locations to the quarry.
To a lesser extent, we use groundwater from two permitted on-site extraction wells. We also have the right to purchase water from the Florence public water system. Omya is authorized to receive up to 500 gallons per minute (gpm) from the town’s water system. However, due to our water conservation efforts, we stay well below that limit. For example, during 2006, we consumed an annual average of approximately 40 gpm from the Florence water system, and 110 gpm from our own on-site sources. By reusing water on a continuing basis, and by recycling water from the PIQ, we continue to reduce our dependence on municipal sources.
WHAT IS GROUNDWATER? WHAT IS SURFACE WATER?
Groundwater exists below ground and flows within and through the spaces between solids in soil, sand, silt, clay, and rocks. Much of the earth’s freshwater is stored as groundwater. Groundwater serves as the source of drinking water for Pittsford, Vermont (as well as almost half of the American population) and is replenished by rain and snowmelt.
Surface water includes lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans. Groundwater can discharge into the surface water, or can return to the surface via wells, springs, or marshes. Surface water can recharge the groundwater through glacial soils and wetland complexes. Surface water and groundwater act together in a cyclical process – surface water evaporates and returns to the earth in the form of rain or snow, some of which filters into the groundwater, which then can drain back into the surface water. The principal body of surface water near the Verpol Plant is Otter Creek, which is located about half a mile east of the site. Smith Pond, which lies to the north and east of the site, also is a body of surface water in the near vicinity.
HOW IS THE WATER TESTED?
Omya has installed and maintains a network of monitoring wells, both ground and surface, to measure water quality and the flow of groundwater and surface water in and around the plant site. The monitoring network includes ten on-site bedrock wells and eight wells and springs located off-site. The groundwater monitoring systems have been monitored over time and sampled for a variety of chemical compounds. All test data shows the groundwater to be within standards, including those for drinking water.
This August 15, 2005 letter from the Department of Environmental Conservation validates the detection methodology used by Omya to test water samples for traces of flotation material in groundwater.
In May of 2008, Omya installed additional monitoring wells in accordance with the revised monitoring plan presented and overseen by Geosyntec.
WHAT ARE OMYA’S FUTURE PLANS FOR MAINTAINING GROUNDWATER QUALITY?
As part of the application for Interim Certification, Omya has committed to an ongoing state-approved groundwater monitoring plan. The plan (see the following link) will include regular testing of on-site and off -site wells. Results from the monitoring will be submitted to the State Agency of Natural Resources and to the community.
05.12.08 Revised Site Monitoring Plan
This version of the monitoring plan incorporates final results and recommendations from the Section 5 Study (Cambridge Environmental and Geosyntec, 2008), comment requests contained in Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation letters to Omya dated (01/28/2008, 02/15/2008 and 03/13/2008), and recent discussions among the Section 5 Consultants, Omya and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
Revised Site Monitoring Plan Appendices
07.22.08 Spring 2008 Monitoring Report
This report presents the results of the Spring 2008 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya’s Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from May 19 to May 27, 2008.
- Appendix A: Boring Logs Documentation for the well boring and sampling.
- Appendix B: Low Flow Sampling Field Calibration and Data Forms
- Appendix C: Laboratory Data Reports
07.31.08 Spring 2008 Monitoring Report Presentation
This presentation was given by Geosyntec at a Stakeholder Meeting on July 31, 2008.
12.30.08 Fall Monitoring Report
This report presents the results of the Fall 2008 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya’s Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from October 27 to October 31, 2008.
This Groundwater and Surface Water Sampling Report was presented by Geosyntec Consultants at a Stakeholder Issue Team Meeting on June 30, 2009.
06.30.09 Spring Monitoring Presentation
This report presents the results of the Spring 2009 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya’s Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from May 18 to May 21, 2009.
08.05.09 Spring 2009 Monitoring Report
This report presents the results of the Fall 2009 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya’s Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from October 26 to October 30, 2009.
12.29.09 Fall 2009 Monitoring Report
This report presents the results of the Spring 2010 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya’s Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from May 24 to May 28, 2010.
08.06.10 Spring 2010 Monitoring Report
This report presents the results of the Fall 2010 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya’s Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from October 25 to October 29, 2010.
12.14.10 Fall 2010 Monitoring Report
This report presents the results of the Fall 2010 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya’s Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from May 2 to May 5, 2011.
06.24.11 Spring 2011 Monitoring Report
This report represents the results of the Fall 2011 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya's Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from October 24 to October 27, 2011.
12.22.11 Fall 2011 Monitoring Report
This report represents the results of the Spring 2012 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya's Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from May 21 to May 24, 2012.
07.30.12 Spring 2012 Monitoring Report
08.30.12 Proposed Modifications to the Approved Monitorning Plan, Omya Verpol Site and Hogback Quarry, Florence, VT, 13 April 2012
This report represents the results of the Fall 2012 semi-annual groundwater and surface water testing conducted in accordance with Omya's Groundwater Monitoring Plan (Final revision March 20, 2008). Field work was performed from October 8 to October 12, 2012.
12.10.12 Fall 2012 Monitoring Report
DOES THE INTERIM CERTIFICATION PROCESS ASSESS GROUNDWATER?
Yes, the Interim Certification application must demonstrate that Omya’s Verpol Plant complies with the state’s General Performance Standards. To do so, Omya must demonstrate that “an emission or discharge from the facility will not unduly harm public health and will have the least possible reasonable impact on the environment.” Omya demonstrated its compliance with this standard through groundwater modeling results and a fate and transport model, which was used to predict worst-case concentrations of contaminants in the groundwater. Monitoring and testing demonstrated that groundwater is in compliance with the Vermont Water Quality Standards, 7/2/2000.
