The Florida Aquifer, technically named the Floridan Aquifer, is one of the largest and most productive aquifer systems in the world. The Floridan Aquifer provides water for irrigation, household, agricultural and industrial use, livestock, plants, wildlife and most importantly, drinking water to the vast majority of Floridians throughout the state. Obviously, for this reason, the Floridan Aquifer is a natural resource of extreme importance which must be protected against Aquifer Storage and Recovery Wells and Deep Injection Wells used for injection of partially treated sewage effluent. Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), is the injection of treated or partially treated water that meets the water quality standards of drinking water or ground water directly into the aquifer through an ASR injection well for later use. Or, at least in the state of Florida, that was the original intention as I understand it.
The concept of Aquifer Storage and Recovery, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is that the aquifer functions as a storage facility when water is plentiful. When water is in demand due to short supply, the injected water can then be recovered for use as drinking water, irrigation or other use. The level of treatment required after storage depends on the use of the water, whether for public consumption as drinking water, surface water augmentation, irrigation, or wetlands enhancement. At this time, there are 18 aquifer storage and recovery well fields in Florida that have about 65 wells among them, according to the Department of Environmental Protection. Sounds like a reasonable solution to a water shortage if done so properly, laws, rules, and regulations are followed, but this is not always the case. Now days, ASR apparently is no longer limited to the storage and recovery of drinking or ground water quality water. It is my understanding, special permits can be issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to store partially treated sewage effluent directly into the Florida Aquifer, our main source of drinking water, via very shallow ASR wells (just 500 feet deep). In many areas of Florida, partially treated sewage effluent and other toxic waste water from various sources is currently being pumped into deep wells at least 1,000 to 2,000 feet deep and deeper, below the Florida Aquifer to depths far and beyond where drinking water is accessed.
The intention of these wells, 1,000 feet deep or greater, is not to store or recover, but instead to dispose of the sewage effluent - forever. Theoretically, deep well injection of sewage effluent does not effect the environment or drinking water because the injection zone is so deep, far below the Florida Aquifer. Myself and many others do not believe that. Studies have been conducted on the environment in areas where deep well injection has occured. Scientific studies indicate adverse impacts on the Florida Aquifer, the environment, sea water, coral reefs, fish, sea turtles, and other sea life. Further studies are being conducted. The Floridan Aquifer is actually an underground river surrounded by porous rock. Water within the Floridan Aquifer flows underground through channels or veins similar to caves and also flows into nearby veins through the porous rock that surrounds the aquifer water.. Water levels and water pressure within the aquifer fluctuate as demand for the water increases and decreases. During dry periods, wells used for irrigation are under high demand. This results in low water levels and reduced pressure within the vein of the aquifer that feed the wells. Common sense dictates that if one particular vein of the aquifer is experiencing low pressure due to low water level, and nearby veins are experiencing high pressure due to high water levels, the water flows through the porous rock walls of the aquifer from the veins with high water levels to replenish the vein of low water level. Water seeks its own level, everyone knows that.
We have been lead to believe that water injected into the Floridan Aquifer via Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells is permanently confined within the injection zone, can be recovered, and will never cause a problem. That is not true at all. The water intermingles with the aquifer water within the cavern it was injected and flows great distances in a short period of time from the injection point throughout the vein in which it was injected, to other veins through the porous walls of the aquifer, into other caverns within the aquifer, and beyond, likely reaching local wells, and is also known to surface as springs on land and sea. In other words, once injected it is gone forever and recovery of the injected water is virtually impossible. In numerous locations throughout the state, the Floridan Aquifer comes to the surface of the land as springs that feed rivers and streams. Many of these springs are found, not only on shore, but offshore, flowing into the oceans and water ways surrounding Florida.
Since Florida is a peninsula, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, ASR is a risky practice to say the least, one that could prove to be a very grave threat to the Floridan Aquifer, our main source of drinking water, the residents of Florida, and the environment in general, on and offshore. Growth has been out of control in many areas throughout the state of Florida, the fourth largest state in the U.S. Due to the large and expanding population, quality drinking water and water for irrigation is in short supply especially during dry periods. Our state simply does not have the water resources or the water treatment infrastructure necessary to support the population growth in some of these areas. Many communities are still using older, outdated treatment technologies.
Aquifer Storage And Recovery Of Sewage Effluent And Other Waste Water Is A Weapon of Mass Destruction!
Waste water effluent is highly toxic, known to contain deadly bacteria, viruses, traces of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs, numerous toxic chemicals including Endocrine Disrupters, Volatile Organic Chemicals, Pesticides and Herbicides, Fluoride, Arsenic and Heavy Metals such as Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Mercury, and Zinc. Protect Yourself, Your Kids, and Your Pets! Don't Drink The Water From ASR Wells Meant For Irrigation! Don't Even Allow It To Touch Your Skin! Do Not Drink From Your Garden Hose! Sewage effluent effects mammals of all kinds including humans. The toxic chemicals in waste water are proven to cause cancer, reproductive problems, nervous system disorders, kidney and liver damage, is highly toxic to humans, especially pregnant women, infants, children, older people, and people with immune deficiencies. Skin eating disease is on the increase in Florida. The water recovered by ASR wells for irrigation may contain the bacteria responsible. Here in Florida, we have a very precious, diverse, and delicate ecosystem. Too numerous to mention, many of our plants, animals, fish, and birds are endangered. The last thing we need in Florida is the detrimental environmental effects associated with the injection of sewage effluent and waste water into the Florida Aquifer via ASR wells. Evidence is mounting in regards to the devastating effects of deep well waste water injection. It is becoming obvious to many, especially to owners of private wells, beach goers, surfers, fishermen, and divers. Coastal areas near deep well sites are experiencing a lot of irreparable damage. Coral reefs are dying, red tides, increased algae bloom, water plants (both fresh and saltwater) are disappearing, the health of endangered sea turtles is at risk, fish numbers are in decline, and marine life in general is suffering from the ill effects of deep well injection. This being true, ASR wells being so shallow (500 - 1000 feet deep) will cause even more environmental problems.
Recently, a new ASR well was constructed in Rockledge, Florida for the purpose of storing water derived from partially treated waste water and sewage effluent. The Rockledge ASR Project is creating quite a stir. The Rockledge Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well Sewage Effluent Injection Project has many residents of Rockledge, and surrounding Brevard County, and environmental groups alike, highly concerned about this controversial issue. Note: To clarify my terminology of partially treated, all of the hazardous chemicals will not be removed from the water prior to injection. These chemicals are not naturally occurring, not normally found in the aquifer, and surely should not be injected into our drinking water supply. Rockledge, a small city of approximately 25,000 people neighboring Cocoa Beach and the Indian River Lagoon is located in Brevard County. Many residents that reside in Brevard County outside of Rockledge city limits own private wells used for drinking water and/or irrigation. The Indian River Lagoon, an Ecological Resource of National Significance, is less than one half mile from the well site. A large area of the Lagoon is within a 1-mile radius of the well. More than a dozen springs, thought to originate from the aquifer, flow directly into the lagoon. Obviously, the City, St Johns River Water Management and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have not considered the adverse environmental impact this experimental well will have on Indian River Lagoon. The city's intention is to inject partially treated sewage effluent into the ASR well at a depth of 3 to 5 hundred feet to be used as irrigation water for lawns, golf courses, and agricultural interests during dry periods. The city contends that the well can help guard against water shortfalls, tightening water restrictions, and will not effect local wells used for drinking water outside of the one mile radius. Construction of the Rocklege ASR Project should be complete in June 2009. The city of Rockledge will then seek a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to operate the well. At this point in time Rockledge does not have a permit to inject partially treated sewage effluent. The permit to operate the well will have to be modified before the actual injection of sewage effluent can take place. By law, testing will be required to determine the extent of the flow that will take place from the point of injection to other areas within the Floridan Aquifer, the state's main underground source of drinking water.
Being so shallow, only 500 feet, i believe this is the first well of its kind in the state of Florida for the purpose of injecting partially treated sewage effluent. Unfortunately, there are two other ASR wells being constructed on the west coast in Tampa and Ft. Meyers for the same purpose. City commissioners voted 6 - 0 to approve the project. Officials claim the injected sewage effluent will be contained within the cavern of the aquifer it is injected and also claim that it will not flow to other areas within the aquifer or otherwise, effect drinking water, nor cause harm to neighboring wells, or create any environmental problems. Officials also claim the water will be treated to drinking water standards. Note: Drinking Water Standards are lacking in that numerous different dangerous chemicals have been found to be in water since the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act was initiated many years ago. New standards need to be put in place to bring our current standards, laws, and regulations up to date... Numerous new chemicals, for example pharmaceuticals, have been identified in tap water throughout the U.S. in recent years. Standards have not been set for many of these new chemicals.
A grass roots organization named Save Our Aquifer has formed to stop the injection of sewage effluent and other waste water, 300 to 500 feet deep, into the newly constructed 500 foot deep, very shallow, ASR well drilled directly into the Florida Aquifer. Hundreds of concerned property owners in Rockledge have responded to Save Our Aquifer (SOA), expressing their concerns over the proposed aquifer injections and ban on potable water wells. Rockledge residents are concerned about the loss of their property and water rights, contamination of their wells and the Indian River Lagoon. Members of Save Our Aquifer are waging a campaign against the well because they are concerned the injected water will flow from the injection site, contaminate local wells fouling water supplies, cause environmental damage, and ultimately contaminate area drinking water resources. At this point, many residents in Rockledge and surrounding Brevard County do not even know about the well. Homeowners in the affected area were not directly notified about the ASR well and the potential impacts on their private wells. No public hearing has been held. Members of Save Our Aquifer are attempting to inform the public about the risks involved. Another concern they have is residents loss of water rights. Back in 2006 the city made an ordinance banning all potable wells within a one mile radius of the new well. Wells used for irrigation are still in operation. Who wants to irrigate with water contaminated with arsenic and deadly chemicals?
The city contends local wells outside of the 1 mile radius will not be effected by the new ASR well and have defined the ordinance prohibiting potable wells within the one mile radius to be an extra safety measure. The truth is, the city officials of Rockledge have no clue as to where the injected water will flow or what damage it could possibly cause to wells located throughout Brevard County, outside of Rockledge city limits. The city ordinance banning potable wells within the one mile radius of the ASR well site back in 2006 tends to conflict with the claim by the city that the injected sewage effluent will be potable or treated to drinking water standards prior to injection. Members of Save Our Aquifer and many other people believe the city's claim that the water produced by this well will be safe is totally false. Officials claim this project is not about recharging the aquifer, nor getting rid of sewage effluent water. Officials say it is all about storing the water within the aquifer for a short time until needed during the dry season for irrigation purposes. The dry season typically lasts approximately 2 months. Apparently, they think the water is going to wait for up to 10 months before being withdrawn for irrigation. I believe the injected water will be GONE... Many people feel that the Rockledge ASR project is not only about water storage. Every town or city has the problem - what to do with sewage effluent. This may just be a cheap solution to that problem. Even cheaper for Rockledge than most realize because the city of Rockledge is actually only paying for approximately half this project.
The other half is being paid for by a grant given to the city by the Saint Johns River Water Management District through the "Florida Water Protection and Sustainability Program", a total of 0,000.00 and another grant from Florida Forever's "Water Resource Development Project" to the tune of 0,470.00 From what I am seeing on the internet, having read numerous studies, judging from past performances of the deep well projects, injecting sewage effluent deep underground has resulted in a tremendous amount of environmental damage, on and off shore. This being true as witnessed by many, shallow ASR Injection directly into the Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW) will be a total disaster. The injected water will mix with the existing natural water contained within the Florida Aquifer, will destroy our source of drinking water, will flow to other areas within the aquifer, springs, wells, and will have a serious negative impact on the environment in general. This is not to mention that only a small amount, if any, of the actual injected water will ever be recovered. As I understand it, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Website, the injected water must be treated to the standards of drinking water.
The injection wells are required to be constructed, operated, and maintained so that the injected water remains within the injection zone. Flow of water between aquifers is prohibited. All ASR injection wells are supposed to be monitored so that if the water were to flow to other areas it would be detected before reaching the Underground Source of Drinking Water. Rockledge will be injecting treated sewage effluent directly into the Florida Aquifer, our source of drinking water... Most Floridians have no clue as to what is going on. The citizens of Rockledge living within the 1-mile radius of the project were not notified in writing nor were they asked their opinion of putting partially treated sewage into their underground source of drinking water prior to implementation of the ASR well project A few residents having knowledge of this well project taking place have asked a number of questions directed at city officials, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the St Johns River Water Management District. Some of the questions have been answered. Most of the answers have come across as being very hard to understand referencing highly technical rules, regulations, and technology that a layman cannot begin to understand. With a lack of information, unanswered questions, and confusing answers to the questions they have chosen to answer, residents of Rockledge and the surrounding area cannot form a full understanding or opinion in regards to this well and it's purpose. This project is not being widely publicized as it should. In fact, it appears Rockledge officials are attempting to keep it quiet. In July, members of Save Our Aquifer requested of the City permission to place signs on private property, with owners consent, where they could be seen by people traveling over US 1.
They were denied saying that such signs would be illegal, calling them "snipe" signs. On November 24, 2008, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida served notice on the City of Rockledge that they intend to sue the City if Save Our Aquifer is not allowed to place signs informing the public about the City's proposed ASR well on private property along US 1 and other roads where property owners allow the signs. December 5, 2008 the City of Rockledge granted Save Our Aquifer permission to post "NO ASR WELL" signs on private property. Save Our Aquifer has posted a 0 bond with the City of Rockledge and will be collecting permission forms from private property owners in Rockledge in order to post signs and raise awareness among the community about the issue. Defending The Floridan Aquifer Is Not Only Our Right, It Is Our Responsibility! The ASR waste water injection "Rockledge test well" (shallow 300'-500') considered an "experiment" with the plan being to expand throughout Florida WILL EFFECT ALL FLORIDIANS IN THE FUTURE! If Rockledge, with the help of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, receives the necessary permits to continue with this project, and you know they will, this will be a model for other cities. Eventually, many other cities throughout the state will follow their lead. No One Enjoys The Stench Of Dead Fish! The Rockledge Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project will be costly in the long run.... Tourism is a huge industry in our state. Tourists flock to our state to enjoy our beaches, sunbathing, fishing, diving, and swimming. In just a few short years Cocoa Beach and the Indian Lagoon will be showing the effects of pollution due to ASR. Once this occurs, the tourists will come no more... Neither will the money they spend at local motels, hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, bait shops, sports stores, etc... Clean, Healthy Drinking Water Is A Basic Human Right! Injection of this toxic mix, polluted, chemical laden sludge will contaminate our single major source of clean, healthy, drinking water. The damage ASR Sewage Injection can create is irreversible. It is government's job, local, state, and federal to protect our water.
To stand up and enforce our laws and regulations that protect drinking water. That's why we have the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. Where does government get off thinking they can threaten our water supply, cap our wells used for drinking water, and destroy our environment? Government does not own the water! Water belongs to no one, every human being on the face of this earth has the right to clean, healthy drinking water! This May Turn Out To Be An Environmental And Economical Disaster! Some communities have given up on their ASR Projects and returned to using surface storage because they have found ASR to be way too expensive. As one man said - "ASR Is The Mother Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction" Injection of this toxic mix, polluted, chemical laden sludge will contaminate our single major source of clean, healthy, drinking water. The damage ASR Sewage Injection can create is irreversible. In Time, No One With A Well In Brevard County Will Have Water Safe To Drink! In South Florida, the home of many such wells, structural damage has occurred. Injection wells have caused cracks in the ceiling of the Florida Aquifer, causing the aquifer to fill with sand creating sinkholes. Sinkholes are known to be a direct route for pollutants to enter the aquifer. The extreme fluctuation of the water level within a well used for this purpose can cause other problems.
I said "extreme" because during dry weather, a time of high demand, a lot of water will be drawn from the well on a daily basis. During periods of wet weather, especially when we get those frog chokers, 10 - 15 inch rains resulting from hurricanes or tropical storms, a lot of water will be pumped down the throat of the ASR well, up to 180 million gallons per year. That makes me wonder to what degree the water will be "treated" or if it will be treated at all prior to injection during these periods of heavy rainfall... Not only can this cause structural problems to the porous rock surrounding the water within the Florida Aquifer, pumping such a huge amount of water into the aquifer on a daily basis will increase the prevalence of arsenic in the water. Unsafe levels of arsenic can occur anytime the rock surrounding the aquifer is disturbed. Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance common throughout much of Florida. Arsenic is also found in many herbicides and pesticides. Arsenic is common in Central Florida water and has been found in many drinking water wells. Something that puzzles me is why the St Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Forever Program is condoning, in fact, donating to this project. I was always under the impression the St Johns River Water Management District and Florida Forever was all about protecting our resources. In fact, I thought Florida Forever was all about conserving natural lands and protecting our environment. My thoughts are that by this well being a solution to the sewage effluent problem, Rockledge will be in a better position to justify more growth. It has always amazed me how local politicians always run their campaign on the position of stopping growth and then when in put office they vote for everything they can that will encourage more growth... There are other options to store reclaimed water and solve the problem of sewage effluent. Surface storage is a much better option....
Every community in Brevard County and surrounding counties have similar water problems. Why not get neighboring counties involved, build a large multi-use, environmentally safe reservoir farther inland, in an unincorporated area. Treat the water properly, to drinking water standards and pipe it in. When the dry season comes, draw water necessary for irrigation. The reservoir and surrounding land could be used for recreational purposes. Boating, fishing, water-skiing, picnicking, camping, etc. Golfing is popular here in Florida, build an adjacent golf course and country club on the property. Include a swimming pool, a restaurant, and tennis courts. Fees charged to use the facilities and profits from the restaurant and camping area would pay the cost of the project. Build a new modern water treatment facility on the property, one capable of fully treating the water, to handle the incoming sewage effluent using solar power. Solar power would provide electricity to power the entire project. Using solar power would also reduce federal taxes, if any, associated with the facility.
Most of this project could possibly be paid for by federal dollars. A "Green" project such as this would likely qualify for low interest government loans, even grants, I would think, especially since our new, incoming president is committed to the environment, the green initiative, and intends to increase jobs by upgrading and building new infrastructure. If we can afford to throw billions of our tax dollars, 350 billion to date I believe, to wasteful companies, banks and mortgage companies that obviously don't know how to handle money, I think the politicians can afford to send a little money our way! I'm no financial wizard and I know this sounds expensive, but so is the Rockledge ASR Project, something to the tune of ,000,000. Not to mention the extreme cost of the continual testing required to operate the well, upwards of 0,000 per year. If Rockledge is permitted to operate the well, others will be built in the near future. If one of these wells fail, polluting the aquifer, the cost of clean up would be out of sight. Now is the time, land is cheaper now than it has been in years. Jobs are needed. A project like this would not only provide water in times of need, if managed correctly, it could actually go into profit and those profits could be shared by all the counties involved. Profits could help pay for county services, reduce local real estate taxes, and build new schools. Doing this would help to solve the waste water problem, create jobs, increase tourism, improve the local economy, help keep our kids off the street, increase property values, be a great improvement to the entire area, and provide something everyone could enjoy, residents and visitors alike. It would be an environmentally friendly solution, much safer than aquifer injection, and would be something we could all be proud of. I have a personal stake in regards to this issue. My drinking water comes from a well we had drilled into the Floridan Aquifer back in 1994. The well is drilled directly into a vein within the Florida Aquifer, 365 feet deep. We fully treat the water prior to drinking.
Look, I'm no scientist, just a concerned citizen, resident of Florida and somewhat of an environmentalist. I have written a number of articles concerning issues such as this. I believe in leaving the smallest footprint possible on the environment. If we all practice good stewardship we can leave our children, grandchildren, and future generations a better place to live.
What Can We Do? Demand All ASR Injected Water Be Fully Treated To Drinking Water Quality, Tested And Monitored On A Regular Basis As It Should Be! Be Part Of The Solution! Let Your Voice Be Heard! Join Save Our Aquifer In This Effort To Stop Aquifer Storage and Recovery! Scroll down my Home Page - Learn more about our drinking water, drinking water contamination, health effects of contaminants found in drinking water - Read the Water News @ www.supremedrinkingwatersolutions.com Contact The Following Environmental Groups
Natural Resources Defense Council
Water Keeper Alliance
Sierra Club
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