Geohydrology and 1985 water withdrawals of the aquifer systems in southwest Florida, with emphasis on the intermediate aquifer system

In southwest Florida, principal hydrogeologic units include the surficial aquifer system, the intermediate aquifer system, and the Floridan aquifer system. The Floridan aquifer system consists of the Upper and Lower Floridan aquifers separated by a middle confining unit. The intermediate aquifer system includes all water-bearing units and confining units between the overlying surficial aquifer system and the underlying Floridan aquifer system. Thickness of the surficial aquifer system ranges from 25 to 250 ft and thickness of the intermediate aquifer system ranges from less than 100 to more than 800 ft. Transmissivity of the intermediate aquifer system ranges from less than 200 to about 12,000 sq ft/day. In the northern part of the study area, the potentiometric surface of the intermediate aquifer system is higher than the potentiometric surface of the underlying Upper Floridan aquifer. Water is transmitted downward through the confining unit and recharges the Upper Floridan aquifer. The gradient in head reverses in the southern part of the study area. In 1985, an estimated 808 million gal/day of freshwater was withdrawn from all aquifers in the study area for irrigation, public and rural supply, and industrial use. Of this total, an estimated 68.9 million gal/day was withdrawn from the intermediate aquifer system. (USGS)