GroundUnder Lexington
The ground under Lexington.
Lexington sits on one of the best aquifers in the county. ODNR describes Clear Fork between Lexington and Butler as a modern river valley with 50 to 100 feet of sand and gravel interbedded with alluvium, with depth to water typically less than 30 feet. Upstream, the outwash between Clear Fork Reservoir and Bellville is the kind that can yield over 500 gallons per minute to large wells.
The ground here is old, too: ODNR notes thick Illinoian-age deposits near Lexington and Bellville, older than the ice that shaped northern Richland County. Up on the ridges away from the valley, wells reach bedrock instead.
The water
Shallow water in permeable sand and gravel is plentiful, but it is also closer to whatever happens at the surface. A well cap that seals, a good grout seal and regular bacteria tests matter more here, not less.
Permits
Richland Public Health issues private water system permits for Lexington and Troy Township. B&E is registered with the Ohio Department of Health as a private water systems contractor (9999-PWSC-26-000029).
Geology: ODNR, Ground Water Pollution Potential of Richland County (Report 63).
Q&ALexington questions
Asked around Lexington.
Is a shallow water table around Lexington a problem for my well?
Not for supply, but it means less natural filtering between the surface and your water. ODNR rates these sand-and-gravel valleys as sensitive to pollution. Keep the well cap sealed, keep the casing above grade and test for bacteria every year.
My Lexington well went cloudy after heavy rain. What should I do?
Don’t drink it until it has been tested. Use bottled water, and call. Cloudiness after rain can mean surface water is getting in at the wellhead, which usually needs a repair plus shock chlorination and a follow-up test.
Do you service homes on both sides of the Clear Fork?
Call (419) 566-9589 with your address and B&E will tell you straight whether it can get to you.