Background Characteristics of Groundwater in the Surficial Aquifer of Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida

Schmalzer, Paul; Hensley, Melissa

Studied trends of the aquifer under Kennedy Space Center reflect increased mineralization with depth and interactions of the Dune and Marsh subaquifers with saline ocen and lagoon waters. The Surficial Aquifer on Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida occurs in unconsolidated Pleistocene and Holocene deposits; it is divided into four sub aquifers (Dune, Dune-Swale, West Plain, Marsh) based on recharge areas and groundwater characteristics. We determined background characteristics from shallow (4.6 m, N = 24), intermediate (10.7 m, N= 16), and deep (15.2 m, N = 11) wells distributed among the four sub aquifers. Wells were located away form known contamination. Organochlorine pesticides, aroclors, and chlorinated herbicides were below detection in all samples. Seven polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) occurred at low frequencies and concentrations at shallow depths of the Dune, Dune-Swale, and West Plain sub aquifers. PAHs are present in soils and have both natural and anthropogenic sources. Most trace elements were below detection or in low concentrations. Only Al, Ca, Cl, Fe, Mg, Mn, K, and Na along with total dissolved solids (TDS), total organic carbon (TOC), conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and temperature could be compared among sub aquifers and depths. Ca, Cl, Mg, Mn, K, Na, TDS, conductivity, and temperature differed with sub aquifer and depth (ANOVA). These trends reflected increased mineralization with depth and interactions of the Dune and Marsh sub aquifer with saline ocean and lagoon waters.

Background Characteristics of Groundwater in the Surficial Aquifer of Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida

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