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Saline Ground Water in Southern Florida a
Author(s) -
Sherwood C. B.,
Klein Howard
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1963.tb01908.x
Subject(s) - aquifer , artesian aquifer , groundwater , water quality , saline water , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , coastal plain , surficial aquifer , irrigation , geology , oceanography , groundwater recharge , salinity , ecology , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , biology
Southern Florida is known for its abundant but seasonal rainfall, and its large quantities of ground water; however, parts of its principal aquifers contain water of inferior quality. Coastal aquifers that yield fresh water for municipal supplies, industry, and irrigation, are subject to sea‐water encroachment as water use increases. In inland locations, parts of these aquifers contain salty remnants from ancient inundating seas. The highly productive artesian Floridan aquifer contains saline water throughout southern Florida. The rapid development of south Florida will eventually require greater use of saline water resources. In the Naples area of southwestern Florida large quantities of moderately saline water in an inland area can be developed by shallow wells or can be drained westward to replenish the aquifer in the coastal area. Accelerated flushing caused by increased drainage and water use should gradually improve the quality of the water in the aquifer in the inland area. Irrigational and industrial use of water from the Floridan aquifer are increasing in areas where the mineralization is not critical. In the future it may be used to maintain water levels in parts of the Everglades National Park during periods of prolonged drought, to sustain the ecology, and to control fires. In coastal Miami it may prove feasible to inject artesian water into the shallow Biscayne aquifer to cut off the tongue of encroaching sea water. Development of artesian water poses the problem of possible contamination of shallow aquifers by leakage through corroded well casings or into uncased zones.