77 Groundwater and Sustainability: Integrating Science, Technology, and Policy

Groundwater is vital for clean water and food security but faces threats from climate change, population growth, and mismanagement. Integrating science, technology, and policy fosters collaboration, innovation, and effective strategies to ensure its sustainable use for future generations.

Monday, 20 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 210AB

Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Wells in Central Florida: Construction and Testing

Paper number: 77-2
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:20 AM – 8:35 AM

Authors

Abstract

Rachel Perez (Stantec), Elizabeth Caneja (South Florida Water Management District - SFWMD), Jennifer Gent (SFWMD), Harshit (Sunny) Saini (SFWMD)

This abstract discusses the construction and hydrogeological testing phases to support the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project (LOWRP) ASR Program, which is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The C-38S, C-38N, and L-63N ASR test well construction projects are located in Glades, Okeechobee, and Highlands Counties, Florida. As part of the ASR test well program, a total of 55 ASR wells will be constructed in five to six wellfields. Each ASR wellfield will have one well completed in the Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA), one well completed in the Avon Park Permeable Zone (APPZ) along with the construction of dual zone monitoring wells (DZMWs) for a total of five well pairs in each wellfield. Each ASR well is capable of storing and recovering five million gallons per day (MGD) (3,500 gallons per minute [gpm]) for a total of 275 MGD.

The purpose of the ASR program is to improve water quality and quantities flowing into Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades and reduce discharges to the estuaries.  Surface water will be pumped from the local rivers and canals, treated to drinking water standards, stored, and then recovered to the same waterway from which it was removed. At this time, construction and testing of the first six ASR test wells is complete at the C-38S, C-38N, and L-63N sites, and the construction and testing of two additional ASR test wells is ongoing at the C-38S site. Water quality, well/aquifer performance, and hydrogeologic data collected during the construction of the ASR test wells and DZMWs will be discussed, including casing installations, geophysical logging, packer testing, lithologic descriptions, formation contacts, the identification of storage zones, and the results from multiple five-day constant rate pumping tests conducted on each ASR test well. Data from these activities is being utilized in the design and construction of additional ASR test wells planned for each site as well as updating a recently completed groundwater flow model. 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-414400

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