U.S. Department of the Interior
US Geological Survey
WRI 76-119

The identification of discrete water-bearing zones in the shallow aquifer of Palm Beach County solely by well cuttings is difficult because of the similarity of material in water-bearing and non-water bearing zones. Frequently water-bearing zones are penetrated without being recognized at the time of drilling. There is no way of determining by examining the drill cuttings whether one or more than one water-bearing zone is present; and, if more than one is present, whether the chemical quality of the water in each is different or the same. Accurate identification of water-bearing zones, however, can be made by correlating the data from lithologic and geophysical logs. The use of a single lithologic or geophysical log may be misleading because of the similarity of materials in water-bearing and nonwater-bearing zones, or in adjacent water-bearing zones. Also, the mineralization of formation water may affect the interpretation of the electrical geophysical logs. Water quality can be determined from chemical analyses of water sampled from wells penetrating the zones.

Subsurface geophysical and lithologic logs were correlated with aquifer tests and laboratory test data to estimate the hydraulic conductivity of selected zones of the shallow aquifer. These zones are, in order of decreasing hydraulic conductivity, Z-1, Z-2, and Z-3. The hydraulic conductivity of the shallow aquifer is estimated to range from 1 to 130 feet per day (0.3 to 40 meters per day), based on lithology and physical properties. The yield of wells penetrating this aquifer ranges from 100 to more than 1,000 gallons per minute (6 to 60 liters per second).

Zone Z-4 represents the upper part of the numerous confining layers which separate the underlying Floridan artesian aquifer from the non-artesian shallow aquifer. Its hydraulic conductivity generally is less than 1 ft/ day (0.3 meter per day). The yield of wells penetrating this zone is less than 100 gal/min (6 liters per second).

Water samples were collected from different depths throughout the county and analyzed for chemical constituents. Stiff diagrams are used in this report to illustrate the changes in types of water by depth and area. They indicate visually that the concentration of mineral constituents tends to increase with depth in a westerly direction, making the water unsuitable for most purposes in the western part of the county. Most of the water of suitable quality is in the eastern parts of the county. In this area the aquifer is thicker than elsewhere and more permeable.

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