Floridan aquifer system: a major source of water supply
The prolific Floridan aquifer system is one of the major sources of ground-water supplies in the United States. The aquifer system underlies an area of about 100,000 square miles including Florida, south-eastern Georgia, and small parts of adjoining Alabama and South Carolina. Ground-water development of the Floridan aquifer system began in the late 1800's. The cities of Jacksonville and Savannah were probably the earliest communities to obtain freshwater from the Floridan aquifer system, beginning in the 1880's. Pumpage has steadily increased since then. By 1950, withdrawals from the Floridan aquifer system exceeded 600 million gallons per day; by 1980, withdrawals were about 3 billion gallons per day. Pumpage has been and continues to be supplied primarily by the diversion of natural outflow from the system and by induced recharge rather than by loss from storage. The approximately 3 billion gallons per day pumped from the Floridan aquifer system for all uses has resulted in long-term regional water-level declines in three broad areas: (1) coastal Georgia/adjacent South Carolina and northeast Florida, (2) west-central Florida, and (3) panhandle Florida. Saltwater encroachment as a result of pumping has occurred in a few coastal areas. There remains a considerable part of the Floridan aquifer system that is highly favorable for the development of large ground-water supplies. This area is largely inland from the coasts and is characterized by high transmissivity and minimal development at present (1985).
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, St. Simons Island, GA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6458125
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Vol. 17; ISSN GAAPB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Hydrology of the Floridan aquifer system in east-central Florida
Hydrology of the Floridan aquifer system in southeast Georgia and adjacent parts of Florida and South Carolina