Home Abstract Introduction > Purpose and Scope - Previous Investigations - Acknowledgments Hydrogeology of S. Florida Ground-Water Movement Subsurface Storage Summary and Conclusions References PDF Version

Introduction: Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to describe the hydrogeology and, most importantly, the flow in the Floridan aquifer system of southern Florida. To accomplish this, geologic, isotopic, and hydraulic data that would indicate or suggest the rate and direction of the ground-water movement were collected during 1980-83 by the U.S. Geological Survey and others. Included are data on hydraulic head, water temperature, dissolved solids (salinity), and selected isotopes. The natural isotopes used for the study are chiefly carbon-13, carbon-14, uranium-234, and uranium-238. Data were primarily collected from 14 widely distributed deep wells in southern Florida, of which the Alligator Alley test well (fig. 2, site 10) was the most important. Temperature data are presented for 16 wells, isotopic data for 8 wells, and hydraulic data for 2 wells. Also included are selected uranium isotope analyses from 46 wells and 10 springs in central and southern Florida that were compiled from existing reports and files. The ground water in the lower part of the Floridan aquifer system in southern Florida is too saline for most uses; therefore, data that concern the use of the aquifer system for storage of liquid wastes and for seasonal storage of surplus freshwater are presented.