Investigator: Mike Meyer Scope of Work

Summary

The USGS Ocala Laboratory will provide third-party laboratory analysis of QA split samples.

Some of the pilot projects described in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan include the construction of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) systems along the Hillsboro Canal, the Caloosahatchee River and adjacent to Lake Okeechobee. The project concept is to store partially treated surface water or groundwater when it is available in ASR wells - completed within the underlying Floridan Aquifer System - for subsequent recovery during dry periods. Among other benefits, implementation of regional ASR technology at the Lake Okeechobee (Lake) site is anticipated to help minimize high-volume water releases to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee River estuaries. During dry periods, water recovered from the ASR wells would be used to maintain the surface water level within the lake and associated canals throughout the Everglades, and to augment water supply demands.

Prior to injecting water into an ASR well or exploratory well, a permit must be obtained from the FDEP. In order to complete the necessary application for the permits, characterization of the potential water to be injected into the Floridan Aquifer must be performed. As a result, the USACE and the SFWMD have contracted with a firm to perform the required sampling, analyses, and reporting. Since the ASR concept is somewhat controversial, the Government wants to generate the best analytical data in order to demonstrate the true quality of the potential water to be injected into the Floridan Aquifer. One of the aspects for generating sound quality analytical data is to collect quality assurance (QA) split samples that will be submitted to a third party analytical laboratory for analysis. The results from the QA split samples will then be compared to the analytical results from the primary analytical laboratory. The USGS Ocala Laboratory will provide the third-party laboratory analysis of the QA split samples.

Scope of Work

• 2003