Wellhead Protection Area Predictions and Implications for the Biscayne Aquifer in Miami, Florida

by Hector R. Fuentes,
Vassilios A. Tsihrintzis,
Jose H. Olivo,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: North American Water and Environment Congress & Destructive Water

Abstract:

The need to protect groundwater supplies from sources of contamination is of particular relevance to densely populated urban areas, such as Dade County (Greater Miami), in South Florida. In accordance with provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), communities have established Well Head Protection Programs (WHPP) to protect their supplies. In the State of Florida, communities, including Dade County, are implementing WHPPs. The county extracts its water supply from the Biscayne Aquifer which has been contaminated in various areas forcing shutdown of wells, pumping limitations and advanced water treatment facilities. This study was completed to compare the predictions made by three different modeling approaches in the determination of the Wellhead Protection Area for the Northwest Welifield the largest field in the County. The comparison, herein reported, considered a set of conservative conditions and resulted in differences in predictions. Differences are related to the various limitations and assumptions of each approach and represent critical information in the delineation of protected areas.

Subject Headings: Groundwater pollution | Water treatment plants | Water supply systems | Water supply | Water pollution | Wells (water) | Groundwater quality | Florida | United States | Miami

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