Potential for Water-Quality Degradation of Interconnected Aquifers in West-Central Florida
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Potential for Water-Quality Degradation of Interconnected Aquifers in West-Central Florida By P. A. METZ and D. L. BRENDLE U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4030 Prepared in cooperation with the SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Tallahassee, Florida 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Earth Science Information Center Suite 3015 Open-File Reports Section 227 North Bronough Street P.O. Box 25286, MS 517 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 Denver, CO 80225-0425 CONTENTS Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Previous Investigations................................................................................................................................................ 2 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Description of Study Area ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Hydrogeologic Framework ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Surficial Aquifer.......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Intermediate Aquifer System ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Floridan Aquifer System ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Factors Influencing Vertical Borehole Flow.......................................................................................................................... 7 Methodology and Instrumentation.........................................................................................................................................10 Results and Interpretation of Geophysical Well Data............................................................................................................12 Impeller Flowmeter Well Log Analysis ......................................................................................................................19 Heat-Pulse Flowmeter Well Log Analysis ..................................................................................................................26 Water Quality ........................................................................................................................................................................31 Chloride .......................................................................................................................................................................31 Sulfate .........................................................................................................................................................................45 Dissolved Solids .........................................................................................................................................................45 Potential for Water-Quality Degradation ..............................................................................................................................46 Estimated Magnitude of Interaquifer Flow ..........................................................................................................................46 Quality of Water Improvement Program ...............................................................................................................................48 Summary and Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................................51 Selected References...............................................................................................................................................................53 Contents III FIGURES 1. Map showing location of study area ........................................................................................................................ 3 2. Correlation chart showing hydrogeologic framework.............................................................................................. 5 3. Schematic of a properly constructed well open to a single aquifer, and a corroded well and an improperly constructed well that can allow water quality contamination between multiple aquifers ....................................... 8 4. Map showing generalized head difference between the intermediate aquifer system and the Upper Floridan aquifer, September 1993 ................................................................................................................. 9 5. Map showing generalized head difference between the intermediate aquifer system and the Upper Floridan aquifer, May 1994 ........................................................................................................................... 11 6. Sketch showing the components of the impeller flowmeter..................................................................................... 12 7. Photograph of a borehole video camera with the impeller flowmeter attachment in a 12-inch open borehole at a depth of 479 feet below land surface ................................................................................................................. 13 8. Sketch showing the components of the heat-pulse flowmeter ................................................................................. 14 9. Map showing locations of wells measured using various geophysical logging techniques..................................... 18 10. Map showing locations of wells in which internal flow was detected using the impeller flowmeter and the maximum recorded borehole flow in gallons per minute......................................................................................... 20 11-16. Graphs showing: 11. Composite geophysical log for ROMP 20 well in Sarasota County ............................................................... 21 12. Composite geophysical log for Oscar Sherer State Park well in Sarasota County........................................... 22 13. Composite geophysical log for Utopia No. 1 well in Sarasota County ........................................................... 23 14. Seasonal flow measurements for Utopia No. 1 well in Sarasota County and hydrographs of the intermediate aquifer system and the Upper Floridan aquifer, October 1992 through October 1993 ............... 24 15. Seasonal flow measurements for Utopia No. 1 well in Sarasota County and hydrographs of the intermediate aquifer system and the Upper Floridan aquifer, November 1993 through October 1994 ........... 25 16. Composite geophysical log for Hickory Street well in Sarasota County with Production No. 3 well under nonpumping and pumping conditions .............................................................................................................. 27 17. Map showing locations of wells measured with the heat-pulse flowmeter and the maximum recorded flow measurement in the borehole in gallons per minute................................................................................................. 29 18. Graph showing composite geophysical log for Schroeder Manatee Ranch No. 8 well in Manatee County using the heat-pulse flowmeter................................................................................................................................. 30 19-24. Maps showing generalized distribution of: 19. Chloride in water from the intermediate aquifer system .................................................................................. 39 20. Chloride in water from the Upper Floridan aquifer.......................................................................................... 40 21. Sulfate in water from the intermediate aquifer system..................................................................................... 41 22. Sulfate in water from the Upper Floridan aquifer ............................................................................................ 42 23. Dissolved solids in water from the intermediate aquifer system...................................................................... 43 24. Dissolved solids in water from the Upper Floridan aquifer ............................................................................. 44 25. Map showing the area where there is a potential for water-quality degradation