Prior to development of the Floridan aquifer system in the 1880’s, recharge to the aquifer system was roughly offset by natural discharge. The Floridan aquifer system was replenished (recharged) by rainfall in areas where aquifer sediments are at or near land surface, generally west and northwest of the coast. Ground water flowed from areas of recharge downgradient toward the coast. The aquifer system was under artesian conditions and the pressure in the aquifer system was great enough that wells flowed at land surface throughout most of the coastal area. In some areas, pressure was high enough to elevate water to multi-story buildings without pumping. The artesian water level was about 65 feet above sea level at Brunswick, and 35 feet above sea level at Savannah. Ground water discharged naturally to springs, rivers, ponds, wetlands, and other surface-water bodies; as diffuse upward leakage into overlying adjacent aquifers; and to the Atlantic Ocean. As water flowed coastward, low-permeability sediments in the vicinity of the Gulf Trough inhibited ground-water flow and produced a steep flow gradient.