The Floridan Aquifer System (FAS) is one of the most productive aquifers on Earth. The FAS of central and south Florida consists of superposed, southward dipping, confined and locally semi-confined aquifers that range in depth from the land surface to 3000 ft below land surface. Hydraulic properties and water-quality characteristics change from recharge areas near Orlando, FL southward. The FAS is a multiple use aquifer system. Historically, it has, served as a potable water source in its northern extent, and an agricultural and industrial water source in more brackish waters to the south. In recent years, however, population growth and limitations on the shallower aquifer systems are driving increasing numbers of public water suppliers to the FAS, even in its brackish extent.
These changes, coupled with major water management programs conducted by the South Florida Water Management District and the US Army Corps of Engineers-Jacksonville District, have provided an impetus to gain a better, quantitative understanding of FAS aquifer properties. In this session, we encourage contributions that enhance the quantitative understanding of ground-water flow in the FAS on a regional scale. Topics include numerical modeling approaches, aquifer testing results, ground-water quality and geochemistry studies, and field studies that apply hydrogeologic concepts such as deep-well injection, aquifer storage recovery, and ground water supply management.