Salt Water Contamination

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1) Discuss how salt water can contaminate freshwater wells taking into consideration the mechanism of contamination and location of the wells.
Saltwater can contaminate a freshwater aquifer in several ways:
• lateral intrusion from the ocean (some call it encroachment sea water)
• upward intrusion from deeper, more saline zones of a ground-water system
• downward intrusion from coastal waters
When a near coast well pumps too much water, or there is a low rate recharge of the aquifer, the salt water is moved upwards to the well. This is sometimes referred as up-coning intrusion, the movement of saltwater from a deeper saltwater zone upward into the freshwater zone in response to pumping at a well or well field.
Source: http://kanat.jsc.vsc.edu/student/spatafora/setup.htm …show more content…
It occurs naturally if there is a change in amount of precipitation or if temperature elevates causing more evaporation, which can also be caused by increased release of CO2 to the atmosphere. But we, humans, are certainly the biggest disruptor. As population increases the need for fresh water increases. Irrigating crops, industrial processing and daily freshwater needs depletes the freshwater from aquifers. As we install wells to pump freshwater for our needs, the harmonic connection between freshwater and salt water is diminished. Salt water and freshwater push each other forming a zone of dispersion. When a lot of freshwater is pumped out this zone moves. The salt water is released from its pressure and it begins to move …show more content…
U.S. Geological Survey has stated that the canal drainage had the most widespread impact on saltwater intrusion.
Some examples back in time:
1925- Coastal drainage forced the closure of the Spring Garden well located 1.5 mi from Biscayne Bay.
1941- Coconut Grove well located 1 mi from the bay closed.
1946- Thousands of private supply wells reportedly had been abandoned along the coastline in Miami-Dade County
Source: http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2003/circ1262/#heading144450960

3) Identify to whom and when (or why) can salt water intrusion become a serious problem for coastal or interior South Florida.
To Whom:
Florida’s east coast counties south of Lake Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami Dade.
When:
In the long-run: The time is directly proportional with population. These are the counties with increased population. The same happens in California with the most crowded coast counties.
In the short-run: every “dry season”, Nov to May, the aquifer faces the inclemency of the weather. I would think that with climate change and temperatures on Earth’s surface, this yearly season will be more drastic, decreasing the time where we can see our biggest aquifer in danger.
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