Journal of Geography and Geology; Vol. 6, No. 4; 2014 ISSN 1916-9779 E-ISSN 1916-9787 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education Benthic Macroalgal Blooms as Indicators of Nutrient Loading from Aquifer-Injected Sewage Effluent in Environmentally Sensitive Near-Shore Waters Associated with the South Florida Keys Sydney T. Bacchus1, Sergio Bernardes1, Thomas Jordan1 & Marguerite Madden1 1 Center for Geospatial Research, Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2502 USA Correspondence: Marguerite Madden, Center for Geospatial Research, Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2502, USA. E-mail:
[email protected] Received: September 12, 2014 Accepted: September 25, 2014 Online Published: November 24, 2014 doi:10.5539/jgg.v6n4p164 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jgg.v6n4p164 Abstract Domestic wastewater is injected into Florida’s permeable aquifer system via Class I and Class V wells theoretically to avoid nutrient loading and other contamination that occurs when domestic wastewater is discharged directly to surface waters, resulting in nutrient loading and harmful algal blooms (HABs). The majority of Class I aquifer-injection wells are used to inject secondary-treated effluent from domestic wastewater treatment plants. Class V aquifer-injection wells also include injection of domestic wastewater. As of July 28, 2014, 257 Class I aquifer-injection wells and 14,466 Class V aquifer-injection wells had been permitted in Florida by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), with 34 Class I wells and 10,671 Class V wells located in the Florida Keys, Monroe County and Miami-Dade County, in southeast Florida. The presumption is that the injected wastewater will be contained within the aquifer zone where the injection is permitted and not move into overlying aquifer zones or surface waters.