Deep Geological Investigation in Eocene and Cretaceous Age Formations, Miami-Dade County, Florida

Presented on Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Edward Rectenwald, P.G.1 and Virginia Walsh, Ph.D., P.G.2, (1)MWH Americas, Fort Myers, FL, (2)Hydrogeology Section, Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department, Miami, FL

Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (MDWASD) operates the Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant (CDWWTP) in Miami-Dade County, Florida, U.S.A. Average daily flows of 114 million gallons per day  of treated domestic wastewater are disposed of via ocean outfall at CDWWTP. Florida Statutes Chapter 403 Section 086(9)(b) require the elimination of discharge of domestic wastewater via ocean outfalls by year 2025, and that prior to 2025, MDWASD must reduce annual averaged outfall loadings of 6.7 million pounds of total nitrogen and 0.3 million pounds of total phosphorus. MDWASD has obtained a Class V Exploratory well permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Underground Injection Control Program. The well is permitted to drill to a depth of 10,000 feet below land surface to investigate alternative disposal options in the Upper Cretaceous aged sediments. Land seismic 3D data was acquired and was used as a hazard survey to locate optimal sites for injection prior to drilling. Sediments encountered during the construction of the injection well range in age from Holocene to Upper Cretaceous.  Existing literature was researched extensively on the deeper formations and hydrostratigraphic units in the south Florida area prior to actual construction activities.  A detailed description is given of the lithostratigraphy and its relationship to the hydrostratigraphy with the current literature.  Cuttings and cores are described using the Florida Geological Survey criteria for sediment descriptions and where identifiable micro fauna is also documented.  Stratigraphic units and the hydrostratigraphy anticipated to be encountered within the Floridan Aquifer System and Upper Cretaceous age formations once drilling activities begin are described in descending order.

MP3 Presentation Slides

Edward Rectenwald, P.G.
MWH Americas, Fort Myers, FL
Mr. Rectenwald is a Principal Hydrogeologist for MWH Americas and has over 18 years of comprehensive experience in various hydrologic, geologic, and environmental investigations in Florida. Ed’s experience includes project management and technical lead roles for permitting, construction and testing oversight of Class I injection wells, Class V ASR and AR wells, public and industrial supply wells, irrigation wells, monitor wells, and rehabilitation of deteriorated wells. His investigational experience includes borehole geophysical log analyses, formation lithology interpretation, hydrogeologic modeling, and long-term water level/water quality studies.
Virginia Walsh, Ph.D., P.G.
Hydrogeology Section, Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department, Miami, FL
Dr. Walsh has over 18 years experience in hydrologic, geologic, and environmental investigations. She has been Chief of the Hydrogeology Section at Miami- Dade Water and Sewer Department (MDWASD), Miami-Dade County, Florida for the past 7 years. Dr. Walsh received her Ph.D. in Geology from Florida International University in 2012. Dr. Walsh and her staff are responsible for all hydrogeologic investigations for MDWASD, and are involved in the design, operation and maintenance of water production wells and the deep injection well systems at MDWASD. Dr. Walsh is also an adjunct professor at Miami-Dade College in Chemistry and Geology.
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