The water-absorbing layers of rock underlying south Florida divide into three layers. The Biscayne Aquifer is closest to the surface and because of this it directly interacts with natural and man-made bodies of surface water, such as streams, lakes, canals and reservoirs. The ground water and the aquifer currently are managed as an integrated water system.[2]
Because the top part of the Biscayne aquifer is the water table, this aquifer is known as an unconfined aquifer. Since it merges with the floor of Biscayne Bay and with the Atlantic Ocean, it is also a coastal aquifer.[3] Both of these factors contribute to its potential contamination. Lowered water tables, primarily from over-pumping, could allow salt water intrusion without man-made interventions such as dam-like structures that control fresh and salt water levels in canals. Because the aquifer is so close to the surface, it is extremely vulnerable to surface contaminants. A massive saltwater plume is radiating from the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station toward wellfields in the aquifer.[4]
Management
The South Florida Water Management District controls an extensive system of canals and other control systems and pumping stations along with the Biscayne Aquifer, Lake Okeechobee and three other large water conservation areas as it monitors and controls the storage and release of the water in the district. It must take into account the danger of salt water intrusion and monitor water demand while it manages surplus flood water and maintains water table levels and adequate water supplies.[1]
The Biscayne Aquifer supplies South Florida metropolitan area with its primary source of fresh water. This area includes most of south Florida (Miami-Dade, Monroe, and parts of Broward Counties) as well was other urban areas stretching from Homestead, Florida to Delray Beach, Florida. Further, water from the Biscayne Aquifer is piped to the Florida Keys.[1]
Footnotes
^ abcAnthony F. Randazzo, Douglas Sl Jones, (Eds) (1997). The Geology of Florida. University Press of Florida. pp. 76–80. ISBN0-8130-1496-4.
^ . glades.sfwmd.gov. Archived from the original on 2008-01-16. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
^. iml.jou.ufl.edu. Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
^Staletovich, Jenny (April 25, 2016). "Florida cites FPL for Turkey Point cooling canal violations". Miami Herald. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
External links
This article about a specific United States geological feature is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
biscayne, aquifer, named, after, biscayne, surficial, aquifer, shallow, layer, highly, permeable, limestone, under, portion, south, florida, area, underlies, includes, broward, county, miami, dade, county, monroe, county, palm, beach, county, total, about, squ. The Biscayne Aquifer named after Biscayne Bay is a surficial aquifer It is a shallow layer of highly permeable limestone under a portion of South Florida The area it underlies includes Broward County Miami Dade County Monroe County and Palm Beach County a total of about 4 000 square miles 10 000 km2 1 A map of the aquifer Contents 1 Description 2 Management 3 Footnotes 4 External linksDescription EditThe water absorbing layers of rock underlying south Florida divide into three layers The Biscayne Aquifer is closest to the surface and because of this it directly interacts with natural and man made bodies of surface water such as streams lakes canals and reservoirs The ground water and the aquifer currently are managed as an integrated water system 2 Because the top part of the Biscayne aquifer is the water table this aquifer is known as an unconfined aquifer Since it merges with the floor of Biscayne Bay and with the Atlantic Ocean it is also a coastal aquifer 3 Both of these factors contribute to its potential contamination Lowered water tables primarily from over pumping could allow salt water intrusion without man made interventions such as dam like structures that control fresh and salt water levels in canals Because the aquifer is so close to the surface it is extremely vulnerable to surface contaminants A massive saltwater plume is radiating from the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station toward wellfields in the aquifer 4 Management EditThe South Florida Water Management District controls an extensive system of canals and other control systems and pumping stations along with the Biscayne Aquifer Lake Okeechobee and three other large water conservation areas as it monitors and controls the storage and release of the water in the district It must take into account the danger of salt water intrusion and monitor water demand while it manages surplus flood water and maintains water table levels and adequate water supplies 1 The Biscayne Aquifer supplies South Florida metropolitan area with its primary source of fresh water This area includes most of south Florida Miami Dade Monroe and parts of Broward Counties as well was other urban areas stretching from Homestead Florida to Delray Beach Florida Further water from the Biscayne Aquifer is piped to the Florida Keys 1 Footnotes Edit a b c Anthony F Randazzo Douglas Sl Jones Eds 1997 The Geology of Florida University Press of Florida pp 76 80 ISBN 0 8130 1496 4 The Living Everglades Geology glades sfwmd gov Archived from the original on 2008 01 16 Retrieved 2008 05 30 South Florida s Biscayne Aquifer What is an Aquifer iml jou ufl edu Archived from the original on 2007 03 10 Retrieved 2008 05 30 Staletovich Jenny April 25 2016 Florida cites FPL for Turkey Point cooling canal violations Miami Herald Retrieved November 24 2020 External links EditDescription of Biscayne Aquifer This article about a specific United States geological feature is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This water supply related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Biscayne Aquifer amp oldid 1093126598, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
