Preliminary results of a study of calcium carbonate saturation of ground water in central Florida

The departure of ground water from equilibrium with calcite is being studied in central Florida. Measurements of pH, temperature, and concentration of bicarbonate made in the field are used with standard laboratory analyses of water samples to calculate an ion activity product (K) for calcium carbonate. The calculated Kiap is compared with the equilibrium constant (Keq) for calcite to determine the departure from equilibrium. The calcium concentration is lowest in the area of the highest piezometric surface. Some of the highest concentrations of bicarbonate are in the area of low calcium. In about half of the area of study, the water is undersaturated with respect to calcite. This indicates that solution of limestone can occur several hundred feet below the water table.