MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

L671
Polk County Aquifer Recharge Project to Relieve Flooding and
Augment GW Supplies
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Water Supply, Flood Protection
Basin(s) Peace River
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager MCBRIDE, TAMERA
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing/No FY$
Polk County, Polk County Natural Resources
Description
This is a flood protection project that will evaluate the feasibility of using a collection of wells to expedite the recharge
of excess surface water that is naturally treated by sands in the surficial aquifer. The concept of Recharge Well Fields
(RWFs) is to allow water in the lower part of the surficial aquifer, that is filtered and treated as it moves downward
through the surficial sediments, to recharge the underlying Upper Floridan aquifer via valve-regulated, gravity-driven
connector pipes/recharge wells. For the feasibility project, the county will construct two surficial aquifer test wells to
collect and analyze water quality from the surficial aquifer. This initial data is needed to ensure that the quality of the
surficial aquifer ground water will meet the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) water quality
standards for injection into the Upper Floridan aquifer. Additional monitor wells will also be installed and equipped with
continuous recorders to measure water levels. If the quality of the ground water from the surficial aquifer meets FDEP
requirements, then the county will proceed with additional feasibility work to construct an exploratory well and
additional funding for future years will be requested. If water quality does not meet FDEP requirements, the project will
not go forward and further funding will not be requested. This project directly supports ongoing efforts by the District to
restore and enhance historic wetland and floodplain storage in the Peace Creek Drainage District (PCDD).
Benefits
This is an innovative project that could help reduce flooding by diverting and expediting the storage of excess surface
water through recharge to the Upper Floridan aquifer. The project will support ongoing efforts by the District to restore
and enhance historic wetland and floodplain storage in the PCDD. Additional benefits include recharging the Upper
Floridan aquifer in the SWUCA and potentially providing future water supplies for the area.
Costs
The County withdrew their request for FY2010 funding and FY2009 funding, based on the projected timeline for
completion. The FY2008 funding request was ranked low for the same reason, and did not receive funding. The total
FY2007 cost for this project is $250,000 with the District's share requested to be $125,000. Funding from the District is
being provided by the Peace River Basin Board.
Additional Information
A preliminary analysis, conducted by the consultant, Schreuder, Inc., identified four potential RWF locations where
excess surface water run-off could be detained and recommended the installation of surficial test wells at two of the
sites: 1) Lake Gwyn near Wahneta (Site #1), and 2) Cypresswood Development (Site #2). Polk County will construct
and monitor water quality from a surficial aquifer test well at the two sites. Monthly water samples will be collected and
analyzed to ensure that the quality of the ground water from the surficial aquifer will meet underground injection control
(UIC) water quality standards. Six additional monitor wells will also be installed and equipped with continuous
recorders for each site. After one year of monitoring, Polk County will assess the water quality data collected and
begin the permitting process needed for the installation and operation of the recharge wells. The consultant's concept
of the RWF involves the installation of up to 25 recharge wells per site, with a well infiltration/recharge rate of
approximately 50 to 60 gallon/minute per well (72,000 gpd). If four RWF sites were developed, (25 wells per site; 100
recharge wells total) this would represent approximately 7 to 8 million gallons per day of recharge to the Floridan
aquifer. It may take an additional two years for the permitting process, the well installation, and subsequent testing
before a final operational permit can be issued by the FDEP. If the water quality of the ground water from the test wells
cannot meet the UIC criteria, the project will not proceed and additional funding will not be requested.
020 - Peace River Basin 280