Effectiveness of pilot connector well in artificial recharge of the Floridan aquifer, western Orange County, Florida

A connector well pilot installation, in continuous operation in western Orange County since December 4, 1970, was transferring water from the lower of two shallow sand aquifers to the Floridan aquifer at a rate of 13 gallons per minute when measured on September 23, 1971.The recharge water is untreated and analyses show it to be chemically and physically compatible with the water in the Floridan aquifer.The temperatures of the recharging and receiving waters were identical, 23°C.The transfer of water from the lower sand aquifer to the Floridan aquifer caused only a small buildup of artesian pressure in the Floridan aquifer but it lowered the artesian head 4 feet in the lower sand aquifer near the well which supplied the recharge water.Water levels in the upper sand aquifer were not affected, probably because of the low permeability of an intervening hardpan layer.However, after six auger holes back-filled with sand connected the two sand aquifers on April 5, 1972, a rise of water levels in the lower sand aquifer was noted.The principal chemical and physical effects on the water in the Floridan aquifer were a general improvement in chemical quality and an increase in color.The color may decrease as more water moves through the sand aquifer and the material responsible for the high color is removed by flushing.The results indicate the technical feasibility of connector wells to artificially recharge the Floridan aquifer.However, in areas that are hydrologically similar to the installation in western Orange County, some modification in the design and operation of connector wells might be considered to improve their efficiency.