Ground-water conditions in Georgia, 1996

Abstract

Groundwater conditions in Georgia during 1996 and for the period of record were evaluated using data from groundwater level and groundwater-quality monitoring networks. Data for 1996 included in this report are from continuous waterlevel records from 71 wells and chloride analyses from 13 wells. Annual mean groundwater levels in Georgia in 1996 ranged from 9.8 feet (ft) lower to 1.8 ft higher than in 1995. Of the 71 wells summarized in this report, 7 wells had annual mean water levels that were higher, 60 wells had annual mean water levels that were lower, and 4 wells had annual mean water levels that were about the same during 1996 as during 1995. Record-low daily mean water levels were recorded in one well tapping the upper Brunswick aquifer, four wells tapping the Upper Floridan aquifer, two wells tapping the Clayton aquifer, and one well tapping a Cretaceous aquifer. These record lows were from 0.1 to 11.4 ft lower than previous record lows. Chloride concentration in water from the Upper Floridan aquifer in most of coastal Georgia was below drinking-water standards established by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In the Savannah area, chloride concentration has not changed appreciably with time. However, chloride concentration in water from some wells that tap the Floridan aquifer system in the Brunswick area exceeds the drinking-water standard. Purpose and Scope This report presents selected groundwater level and groundwater quality data for Georgia for calendar year 1996 and for the period of record. Graphs showing groundwater levels in 71 wells are presented. Graphs show chloride concentrations in water collected from 13 wells tapping the Floridan aquifer system in the Savannah and Brunswick areas. The text includes a brief discussion of the aquifers and aquifer systems, groundwater levels, and chloride concentration in water. An extensive list of references of waterresources investigations are presented in "Selected References"; previously published reports on Georgia groundwater conditions are listed in table 1. Well-Numbering System Wells described in this report are numbered according to a system based on the USGS index of topographic maps of Georgia. Each? 1/2-minute topographic quadrangle in the State has been assigred a three to four-digit number and letter designation (example, 07H, 11AA) beginning at the southwestern corner of the State. Numbers increase sequentially eastward and letters advance alphabetically northwrd. Quadrangles in the northern part of the State are designated by double letters; AA follows Z, and so forth. The letters "I", "O", "II", and "OO" are not u-ed. Wells inventoried in each quadrangle are numbered consecutively, beginning with 01. Thus, the fourth well inventoried in the 11 AA quadrangle is designated 11AA04.