Long Island Sole-source aquifer system

Sole-source aquifer system - This representative cross-sectional view of the Long Island aquifer system shows that about 630 Bgal/d of water enters the flow system as recharge at the water table from rainfall and flows in the subsurface until either discharging to ponds, streams, coastal waters or pumping wells. Groundwater withdrawals remove as much as 23% of the total recharge entering the aquifer. A small portion of the pumped water (about 20%) is returned to the aquifer system as wastewater returnflow from septic systems and cesspools. Most of that occurs in the nonsewered areas of western Suffolk Co., an area with high housing density.