From Volusia County Water Resources and Utilities

March/April 2003

Florida’s Underground Water Supply, the Floridan Aquifer

What is an aquifer?  Aquifers can be thought of as vast underground, sponge-like rocks that hold water and allow water to move through the holes within the rock.  Aquifers are layers within limestone and sandshell rock under the earth’s surface that are filled or recharged by rainfall.  

On average, Florida receives 50 inches of rain each year, however, not all of the rain reaches the aquifer. About 37 inches evaporates or runs off the land into surface waters such as rivers, streams and lakes before it has a chance to soak into the ground.  This leaves 13 inches annually to recharge the aquifer. The largest aquifer in the southeastern United States is the Floridan.  It is found beneath all of Florida and portions of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.  The Floridan an aquifer system is impacted daily.  Paved roads, parking lots, shopping centers, housing developments and other buildings cover up lands that have soils best suited to allow water to seep into the aquifer.  This reduction of soil area results in reduced “Aquifer Recharge”.  One of the solutions to this situation is to promote land conservation through public and private partnerships.

What is an ?
Building your own edible aquifer.

Many communities get their drinking water from underground sources called aquifers. Residents and utility companies drill wells through the soil and rock into aquifers for the groundwater that can supply them with drinking water.

Unfortunately, groundwater can become contaminated by harmful chemicals, like improper disposal of household chemicals such as lawn care products, cleaners, oils and other pollutants. Chemicals can percolate down through the soil and rock and into the aquifer, and can eventually contaminate wells. These contaminates can pose a significant threat to our health. It is important that all of us do our part in being good stewards of our earth and preserving our natural resources for years to come.

This activity is a fun and an easy way to understand the geology of an aquifer. You will build your own edible aquifer.

Directions

1) Begin constructing your edible aquifer by filling a clear plastic cup 1/3 full with gummy bears, gummy pieces, or crushed ice (represents gravels and soils)

2) Add enough soda to just cover the candy/ice.

3) Add a layer of ice cream to serve as a "confining layer" over the water-filled aquifer

4) Then add more crushed ice on top of the "confining layer."

5) Colored sugars and sprinkles represent soils and should be sprinkled over the top to create the porous top layer.

6) Now add the food coloring to the soda. The food coloring represents contamination. Watch what happens when it is poured on the top of the "aquifer." Keep in mind that the same thing happens when contaminants are spilled on the earth's surface.

7) Using your straw, drill a well into the center of your aquifer. Slowly begin to pump the well by sucking on the straw. Watch the decline in the water table.

Notice how the contaminants can get sucked into the well area and end up in the groundwater by leaking through the confining layer.

8) Now recharge your aquifer by adding more soda, which represents a rain shower. 

Review what you have learned as you enjoy eating your edible aquifer.

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Volusia County, Florida.