Today's Aquitard Will Be Tomorrow's Aquifer

As population grows, climate changes, and water demands increase, our concepts of what constitutes an aquifer evolve. Historically productive aquifers are becoming over stressed and there is a need to seek less productive or desirable horizons to support future groundwater supplies. Since we need to use hydrostratigraphic nomenclature for water- and waste-management purposes and for communication with the public, designations of aquifers and confining units should be formalized in a way that will allow for status and use changes to occur and to communicate to water users that the changing uses are appropriate.

This process is underway in Florida where water needs have resulted in use of water-bearing strata within named confining units and non-potable “aquifers”. Examples from Florida demonstrate that today's confining unit may be tomorrow's aquifer – changes that a formalized hydrostratigraphic code should facilitate.