Ground-Water in Alabama:

Rediscovery of an Old Friend

       Drought conditions, periodic water shortages, and economic growth in Alabama in recent years is prompting water supply systems, local governments, and state and federal agencies to formulate plans for securing future water supplies. A major part of this planning process includes scientific and engineering data concerning water source availability and development.

          Alabama has some of the most diverse geology in the world. With this diversity comes a rich assemblage of natural resources including minerals, oil and gas, coal, and water. Estimates indicate that Alabama has about 500 trillion gallons of ground water contained in more than 25 aquifers. Treatment costs, environmental concerns, regulatory requirements, and effects of climate and potential climate change on reliability of surface-water sources is causing water supply systems, industries, and agricultural interests to consider development of ground-water sources. Currently, 34 percent of Alabama's public water supply is from ground-water sources. The amount of ground-water use in Alabama increased 10 percent from 1995 to 2000 while surface-water use declined by 1 percent.

       Alabama has plentiful ground-water resources. However, many water systems that rely on ground water are concerned about over-production, declining water levels in wells, or inadequate supplies to meet growing demand. Recent assessments of ground-water resources and production effects in several areas of Alabama by the Geological Survey of Alabama indicate that when innovative exploration techniques and resource management are employed, new sources of water can be developed while protecting existing ones. Concerns about future water supplies may be alleviated by application of scientific data to management strategies designed to optimize available water resources. State-wide water management implemented on the local scale is the key to securing Alabama's water future.