Pennsylvania Geological Survey, 4th Series, Water Resources Report 65 "Groundwater resources of Pike County, Pennsylvania" by Davis, D.K.       Pike County is a 545-square-mile area in northeastern Pennsylvania where outdoor recreation is the principal activity. Bedrock consists of Middle and Upper Devonian sedimentary rocks that dip 1 to 10 degrees to the northwest. Most of the bedrock is covered with glacial till or ground moraine deposited during the Pleistocene Epoch. Unconsolidated valley-fill deposits are up to 500 feet thick along the Delaware River.       Groundwater levels fluctuate in response to precipitation and evapotranspiration. Water levels generally decline during the summer season and recover during the winter season. The median depth to water in unconsolidated deposits is 30 feet below land surface; in consolidated rocks it ranges between 28 and 35 feet below land surface. Water is found primarily in faults, joints, and bedding planes in consolidated rocks and in intergranular openings in unconsolidated deposits. The thickness of the freshwater system is greater than 800 feet.       Most wells are domestic and have depths that range from 8 to 1,200 feet and reported yields that range from 1 to 150 gallons per minute. Most wells are in consolidated-rock aquifers; however, wells in unconsolidated deposits have potentially larger yields. Specific capacities of nondomestic wells in unconsolidated deposits range from 1.4 to 30 gallons per minute per foot, whereas specific capacities of nondomestic wells in consolidated-rock aquifers range from 0.001 to 10 gallons per minute per foot.       Water quality is generally good and suitable for most uses. The median specific conductance of water from most aquifers is less than 200 micromhos per centimeter. Hardness is generally less than 80 milligrams per liter (as calcium carbonate). Median values of pH range from 6.3 to 8.0. Water-quality problems are related primarily to elevated concentrations of iron and manganese. In 59 water samples, dissolved iron ranged from 0 to 2,500 micrograms per liter; in 58 water samples, dissolved manganese ranged from less than 1 to 820 micrograms per liter. Return to the Water Resources of Pennsylvania Home Page or go directly to: The URL for this page is http://pa.water.usgs.gov /abstracts/wrr_65.html Please note our privacy statement and disclaimer Accessibility Answers to many common questions can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. Please direct content comments or questions to: Information Specialist U.S. Geological Survey 215 Limekiln Road New Cumberland, PA 17070-2424 Phone: (717) 730-6916 FAX: (717) 730-6997 Email: is_pa@usgs.gov or contact: Director, USGS Pennsylvania Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey 215 Limekiln Road New Cumberland, PA 17070-2424 Phone: (717) 730-6960 FAX: (717) 730-6997 Email: dc_pa@usgs.gov Please direct web related comments to webmaster@pa.water.usgs.gov sdww51