Upper Floridan Aquifer
Central Coastal area
Water levels in 29 wells were used to define groundwater
conditions in the Upper Floridan aquifer in the
central coastal area of Georgia during 2001 (map and
inset, facing page). In this area, water in the Upper
Floridan aquifer is confined and influenced primarily by
pumpage. Water levels in 7 wells were within the normal
range, water levels in 9 wells were below normal, and
water levels in 13 wells were above normal. Wells with
water levels in the normal to above-normal range
typically are located near the cities of Savannah and
Brunswick where water use is primarily for industrial
and public supply. Water-level rises in these areas
occurred as a result of conservation and decreased water
use. Wells with water levels below normal during 2001
are mostly in areas farther away from the Savannah and Brunswick pumping centers, reflecting changing
pumping patterns in those areas.
Water-level hydrographs for three Upper Floridan
aquifer wells in the central coastal area of Georgia
(shown below), were chosen to illustrate monthly mean
water levels during 1997–2001 and period-of-record
water-level statistics. The water level in well 36Q008
near Savannah in Chatham County was normal or above
normal from 1997 to 2001—likely due to a decrease
in water use from conservation (Julia L. Fanning, U.S.
Geological Survey, oral commun. with David C. Leeth,
2002). Similarly, the water level in well 33H133 at
Brunswick in Glynn County has been at or above normal
since 1997—likely due to decreased water use. The
hydrograph for well 33M004 in Long County shows a
long-term decline with the water level declining below
normal during early 1999 and continuing through 2001.
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