Update on the Floridan Aquifer System in

SFWMD

Update on the Floridan Aquifer System in

SFWMDPeter J. Kwiatkowski, P.G., Director

Resource Evaluation Division, Water Supply Dept.

Water Resources Advisory Committee MeetingWest Palm Beach, Florida

February 8, 2007

Peter J. Kwiatkowski, P.G., DirectorResource Evaluation Division, Water Supply Dept.

Water Resources Advisory Committee MeetingWest Palm Beach, Florida

February 8, 2007

West Palm Beach

Lake OkeechobeeFt. Myers Labelle

2300

2100

1900

1700

1500

1300

1100

900

700

500

300

1000

Water Table Aquifer

Lower Confining Unit

Boulder Zone

Middle Confining Unit

Upper Floridan Aquifer

Hawthorn Confining Zone

Lower Tamiami Aquifer

Biscayne

Sandstone Aquifer

Aquifer

WEST EAST

Mid Hawthorn Aquifer

Middle Floridan Aquifer

Middle Confining Unit

3000

Lower Confining Unit

Lower Confining UnitLower Floridan Producing Zone 1

GeneralizGeneralized Aquifer ed Aquifer System System Map of Map of South South FloridaFlorida

GeneralizGeneralized Aquifer ed Aquifer System System Map of Map of South South FloridaFlorida

Aquifer & Relative Yields in South Florida

Aquifer & Relative Yields in South Florida

Aquifer Yield Depth (ft bls)

Upper FloridanModerate 800 to 1,500

Boulder Zone Very High 2,800 to 3,500

Biscayne Aquifer Very High 0 to 200

Surficial Aquifer Low 0 to 100

Tamiami Aquifer Low to Moderate 100 to 400

Aquifer Yield Depth (ft bls)

Upper FloridanModerate 800 to 1,500

Boulder Zone Very High 2,800 to 3,500

Biscayne Aquifer Very High 0 to 200

Surficial Aquifer Low 0 to 100

Tamiami Aquifer Low to Moderate 100 to 400

General Characterization of the Floridan Aquifer SystemGeneral Characterization of the Floridan Aquifer System

Recharge area in Central Florida Confined in South Florida by several hundred feet

of relatively impermeable sediments (Hawthorn Group) – isolated from Biscayne aquifer

Lower portion (Boulder Zone) used to dispose of treated effluent from wastewater treatment plants and concentrate from reverse osmosis facilities

Upper portions of Floridan aquifer system used for brackish (slightly saline) water supply (e.g., Town of Jupiter) since late 1980s

Formations extend offshore at depth (saline water)

Artesian Head – 20 to 30 feet above land surface

Recharge area in Central Florida Confined in South Florida by several hundred feet

of relatively impermeable sediments (Hawthorn Group) – isolated from Biscayne aquifer

Lower portion (Boulder Zone) used to dispose of treated effluent from wastewater treatment plants and concentrate from reverse osmosis facilities

Upper portions of Floridan aquifer system used for brackish (slightly saline) water supply (e.g., Town of Jupiter) since late 1980s

Formations extend offshore at depth (saline water)

Artesian Head – 20 to 30 feet above land surface

(From USGS Circular 1278)

Geographic Differences of Floridan Aquifer System

Geographic Differences of Floridan Aquifer System

Recharge Area in Central Florida

Confined Aquifer in South Florida – less water released from storage, greater drawdowns

Recharge Area in Central Florida

Confined Aquifer in South Florida – less water released from storage, greater drawdowns(USGS Circular 1278)

Floridan Aquifer Demands (2000)Floridan Aquifer Demands (2000)

(USGS Circular 1278)

Largest Public Water

Suppliers (> 20 MGD)

Growth in Floridan Aquifer System Demands

Growth in Floridan Aquifer System Demands

Total Demand from the Floridan Aquifer System from 1950 to 2000 (USGS Circular 1278)

MG

D

Broward

Palm Beach

Miami-Dade

Monroe

FloridanAquifer

LEC Projected Demands for Water Supply and FAS

LEC Projected Demands for Water Supply and FAS

Approved Alternative Water Supply

Projects FY07

Approved Alternative Water Supply

Projects FY07

L-8 CanalL-8 Canal

Central Palm Beach CountyCentral Palm

Beach County

C-51 CanalC-51 Canal

Caloosahatchee Basin

Caloosahatchee Basin

HillsboroHillsboro

Site # ASR WellsLake Okeechobee 200Caloosahatchee 44L-8 Basin 10C-51 Basin 34Central PBC 15Hillsboro 30TOTAL 333

Proposed Aquifer Storage and Recovery

(ASR) Areas, Comprehensive

Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), (USACE,

1999)

Proposed Aquifer Storage and Recovery

(ASR) Areas, Comprehensive

Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), (USACE,

1999)

Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee

General Characterization of the Floridan Aquifer

System

General Characterization of the Floridan Aquifer

System Upper and Middle Floridan Aquifers can be used

for both Aquifer Storage and Recovery and RO source water

Brackish quality requires membrane treatment to meet drinking water standards

Relatively stable water quality seasonally, but geographically variable

Some pumping wells become saltier (upconing of more saline water from below or laterally along coast)

Upper and Middle Floridan Aquifers can be used for both Aquifer Storage and Recovery and RO source water

Brackish quality requires membrane treatment to meet drinking water standards

Relatively stable water quality seasonally, but geographically variable

Some pumping wells become saltier (upconing of more saline water from below or laterally along coast)

Comparison to Biscayne Aquifer

Comparison to Biscayne Aquifer

Similarities Variable well yields and water quality within

wellfields May require additional testing initially

Differences Biscayne aquifer – more data, greater

understanding Biscayne aquifer recharged locally through

rainfall, canals, Everglades seepage Biscayne aquifer subject to contamination Biscayne aquifer – much more likely to have

water shortage restrictions imposed Potential conflicting uses (RO vs. ASR)

Similarities Variable well yields and water quality within

wellfields May require additional testing initially

Differences Biscayne aquifer – more data, greater

understanding Biscayne aquifer recharged locally through

rainfall, canals, Everglades seepage Biscayne aquifer subject to contamination Biscayne aquifer – much more likely to have

water shortage restrictions imposed Potential conflicting uses (RO vs. ASR)

Engineering ConsiderationsEngineering Considerations Greater Drawdowns

Increased energy costs associated with lifting water via pumps

Adjacent user effects Potential for decline in water quality over time

Membrane design and periodic replacement Blending with Biscayne water

Membrane Treatment Estimated 125% of raw water to meet treated water

demands Concentrate disposal via deep injection wells

Greater Drawdowns Increased energy costs associated with lifting water via

pumps Adjacent user effects

Potential for decline in water quality over time Membrane design and periodic replacement Blending with Biscayne water

Membrane Treatment Estimated 125% of raw water to meet treated water

demands Concentrate disposal via deep injection wells

SFWMD Initiatives SFWMD Initiatives 15 years ago to Present

Installed test well pairs in data gap areas (e.g., rural portions of peninsula) for long-term water supply planning

Conducted aquifer tests to obtain aquifer parameters at these sites

Installed data loggers onto existing and newly installed wells to obtain long-term water level data

7 years ago to Present Installed test and monitor wells as part of Aquifer

Storage and Recovery (ASR) program for Everglades Restoration

15 years ago to Present Installed test well pairs in data gap areas (e.g., rural

portions of peninsula) for long-term water supply planning

Conducted aquifer tests to obtain aquifer parameters at these sites

Installed data loggers onto existing and newly installed wells to obtain long-term water level data

7 years ago to Present Installed test and monitor wells as part of Aquifer

Storage and Recovery (ASR) program for Everglades Restoration

SFWMD Floridan Well NetworkSFWMD Floridan Well Network

SFWMD Initiatives (cont’d)SFWMD Initiatives (cont’d)

2 years ago to Present Obtain data from wells installed by utilities under

Alternative Water Supply Program Standardize data input for database purposes Recruit groundwater data steward to provide

quality assurance/quality control function for existing and future data

2 years ago to Present Obtain data from wells installed by utilities under

Alternative Water Supply Program Standardize data input for database purposes Recruit groundwater data steward to provide

quality assurance/quality control function for existing and future data

Models Developed Models Developed

Lower West Coast Floridan East Central Florida Transient (ECFT)

Model finalizing peer review process now

East Coast Floridan Contract to be awarded to incorporate

Upper East Coast (UEC) area into existing Lower East Coast (LEC) Floridan Model

Contract calls for recalibration with newly acquired data

Lower West Coast Floridan East Central Florida Transient (ECFT)

Model finalizing peer review process now

East Coast Floridan Contract to be awarded to incorporate

Upper East Coast (UEC) area into existing Lower East Coast (LEC) Floridan Model

Contract calls for recalibration with newly acquired data

Modeling Issues Modeling Issues Brackish quality of Floridan aquifer and

saltwater boundary along the coast requires density-dependent modeling approach More data intensive Less data available Greater uncertainty

Brackish quality of Floridan aquifer and saltwater boundary along the coast requires density-dependent modeling approach More data intensive Less data available Greater uncertainty

Conclusions Conclusions Floridan aquifer system should be able to meet

projected demands identified in LEC Plan

Greater Uncertainty

Initial water quality

Changes in water quality over time

Drawdown effects

Costs will be higher than traditional sources

Better understanding of regulatory framework for reclaimed water, ASR, and changes to C&SF project will likely result in reduced, projected Floridan demands

Floridan aquifer system should be able to meet projected demands identified in LEC Plan

Greater Uncertainty

Initial water quality

Changes in water quality over time

Drawdown effects

Costs will be higher than traditional sources

Better understanding of regulatory framework for reclaimed water, ASR, and changes to C&SF project will likely result in reduced, projected Floridan demands