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USGS1985

Quality of ground water used for public supply in Florida, 1983-84

From October 1983 through March 1984, a chemical sampling reconnaissance was made of ground water used for public supply for 91 communities throughout Florida. Public supply wells present an excellent network for collecting baseline water-quality information on the quality of ground water prior to any treatment because they are located throughout the State, are in the most populated areas, usually have continuous and often high pumpage, and have great health and economic significance. The reconnaissance was part of several project tasks sponsored by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation to develop guidelines and data bases for use in the design and implementation of a statewide ground-water monitoring network as mandated by the recent enactment of Florida 's Water Quality Assurance Act of 1983. (USGS)

Open-File Report↗

USGS1980

Chemical and physical characteristics of precipitation at selected sites in Florida

Infrequent sampling of precipitation in Florida has been conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1965. A summary of the historical data from 24 sites throughout Florida indicate that the principal ionic composition of atmospheric precipitation samples is calcium-sodium and bicarbonate-chloride with an average specific conductance of 32 micromhos per centimeter at 25 C. Historically, much of the sampling focused on primary nutrients and selected trace elements. Historical data indicate that nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations averaged 1.1 and 0.1 milligrams per liter, respectively. The limited trace metal data indicate that motor-vehicle activity may have a significant impact on local precipitation quality. Lead, for example, was measured in concentrations of as much as 2,400 micrograms per liter in samples collected in a highly populated, commerical area in south Florida. Statistical testing indicated that most major inorganic constituents, primary nutrients, and trace metals were significantly differnet among the sampling sites. The pH data indicated a range of about 5.0 to 7.0, but only limited pH data were collected and analyzed at the historical sites in such a timely manner as to represent pH conditions of the atmospheric precipitation during active rainfall. A critical review of the historical data suggested that while they may reflect local atmospheric quality conditions they likely do not define baseline conditions from a regional perspective. The application of these data were generally limited regarding regional extrapolation due to lack of standardization of sampling techniques, variable methods of sample preservation, nonuniform sampling intervals, variable sample sizes, and different periods of record. (USGS)

Water-Resources Investigations Report↗