To meet Polk County’s future water needs, the District and County will be investigating the lower Floridan aquifers as a potential alternative water source.
The District is conducting exploratory well research more than a half mile below the surface. It’s happening at the Crooked Lake well site, located in southeastern Polk County. Central Florida has used the Upper Floridan aquifer as it’s predominant water source for decades. Now, with continued population growth, finding future water sources is more important than ever before.
Background
Polk County has traditionally relied on fresh groundwater from the upper Floridan aquifer as a
primary water source for public, agricultural and industrial uses. The District’s 2015 Regional Water Supply Plan identifies a 22 percent increase in water supply will be needed to meet future demand in Polk County by 2035. The District is committed to exploring alternative water supplies (AWS), such as the brackish groundwater from the lower Floridan aquifers (LFA), to help meet future demand in this region.
Little is known about the lower Floridan aquifers' characteristics within Polk County and how its long-term use may affect the upper Floridan aquifer. A better understanding of the LFAs geology and hydraulic properties, water quality and quantity, and the potential for drawdown and movement of saline water is necessary to evaluate any future plans. The new data will enhance groundwater modeling of the LFAs and determine the feasibility of developing the lower Floridan aquifers as a new water source in areas of Polk County.
Details
The District in partnership with Polk County and the City of Lake Wales are currently exploring the LFAs to assess their viability as an AWS source. The investigation involves drilling exploratory wells at three key locations, chosen for their proximity to the proposed Southeast Polk Wellfield, and to improve data coverage for groundwater resource monitoring and flow modeling.
The District has contracted with three consulting firms experienced with the design and testing of Floridan aquifer system wells to conduct this project. The three sites and tentative timeline are provided below.
Crooked Lake
- Phase I drilling and well construction – Completed January 2018
- Phase II drilling and well construction – Completed December 2020
- Report the findings – Summer 2022
Frostproof
- Phase I drilling – Initiated January 2018 and completed
- Phase II drilling – Initiated Summer 2019 and ongoing
Lake Wales
- Phase I drilling – Initiated Summer 2019 and ongoing