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Sole Source Aquifers in the Southeast
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a sole source aquifer as an underground water source that supplies at least 50 percent of the drinking water consumed in the area overlying the aquifer. These areas have no alternative drinking water source(s) that could physically, legally, and economically supply all those who depend upon the aquifer for drinking water.
The Sole Source Aquifer Program is authorized by Section 1424(e) of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. Designation of an aquifer as a sole source aquifer provides EPA with the authority to review federal financially assisted projects planned for the area to determine their potential for contaminating the aquifer.
Federally funded projects reviewed by EPA under the Sole Source Aquifer Program may include, but are not limited to, highway improvements and new road construction, public water supply wells, transmission lines, wastewater treatment facilities, construction projects involving disposal of storm water, and agricultural projects involving management of animal waste. Proposed projects that are funded entirely by state, local, or private concerns are not subject to EPA review.
Sole Source Aquifers in the Southeast
EPA has designated three sole source aquifers that are entirely or partially within Region 4:
- Biscayne Aquifer in south Florida
- Southern Hills Regional Aquifer System in eastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi
- Volusia-Floridan Aquifer in east-central Florida.
Approximate Boundaries of Region 4 Sole Source Aquifers
Biscayne Sole Source Aquifer & Recharge Zones
The Biscayne Aquifer lies within an area of south Florida bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico between Whitewater Bay in Monroe County and Delray Beach in Palm Beach County; and by a line drawn from the mouth of Whitewater Bay northeasterly and northerly to the intersection of the northern boundary of Monroe County and the western boundary of Dade County; and thence northerly and northeasterly to the intersection of the North New River Canal and the boundary line separating Broward and Palm Beach Counties; and finally east-northeasterly to Delray Beach. The enclosed area includes all of Dade County and parts of Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach Counties.
Southern Hills Regional Aquifer System
The designation area covers all of ten parishes in Louisiana (E. Baton Rouge, E. Feliciana, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington, W. Baton Rouge and W. Feliciana) and in Mississippi all of ten counties (Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Pike, Walthall and Wilkinson) as well as the parts of Hinds and Warren Counties underlain by the Catahoula Sandstone, and those portions of Marion and Lawrence Counties west of the Pearl River.
Volusia Sole Source Aquifer
The northern boundary of the designated area begins at the southeast corner
of Flagler Beach State Park and curves south and west through the community
of Karona at U.S. Highway Route Number 1. The boundary continues southwest,
west and northwest to the intersection of Haw Creek and Crescent Lake. The
boundary then follows the west bank of Crescent Lake to Dunn's Creek and follows
the west bank of Dunn's Creek to its intersection with the St. John's River.
The border of the designated area then follows the east bank of Lake George
to its intersection with the boundary of Volusia County. The boundary of the
designated area and the boundary of Volusia county are congruent for the remainder
of the area's western and southern boundaries to the Atlantic Ocean. The area's
eastern boundary is the Atlantic Ocean.
The designated area includes all of Volusia County and portions of Flagler
and Putnam Counties, Florida and extends approximately 1,450 square miles.
Major cities in the area include Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach
and Deland.
Petition for Sole Source Aquifer Designation
Even though EPA has authority to initiate sole source aquifer (SSA) petitions, EPA normally responds only to submitted petitions. Any individual, corporation, company, association, partnership, state, municipality, or federal agency may petition for SSA designation.
EPA published the Sole Source Aquifer Designation Petitioner Guidance to assist those interested in preparing and submitting SSA designation petitions.
Post-Designation Review Authority and Coordination
Federal financially assisted projects that lie within the SSA boundaries should be sent to the appropriate EPA regional office for aquifer impact determination review. Projects outside of the SSA boundaries and/or that do not receive federal funding are not required to have an SSA impact review.
EPA Region 4 Sole Source Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 4
Water Protection Division
Ground Water & SDWA Enforcement Section
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street
Atlanta, GA 30303-8960