FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY


influenced by heavy pumping at Newport Industries and by changes in
rainfall. The water level was lowered by pumping before water-level
measurements were started in 1940.
 Ground-water pumping at Newport Industries started in 1918 at an
average rate of 2 mgd and increased to an average rate of 9 mgd in
1939. Cooling towers were installed in 1941, 1948, 1954, and 1962. Re-use
of some of the water reduced the average pumping rate to 3.6 mgd in
1962.
 The hydrograph of well 024-715-1 shows that the water level has
been lowered by heavy pumping by Newport Industries and has been
below sea level most of the time since the summer of 1952. As salt water
in Bayou Chico is only 450 feet from the well, the lowered fresh-water
levels could cause salty water from the bayou to percolate into the aqui-
fer in this area and destroy its usefulness.
 Well 024-715-2, which was drilled beside well 024-715-1, is 17.5 feet
deep. The water level in well 024-715-2 had a range of only 4.4 feet dur-
ing the 23-year period of record. The water level rose to 5.2 feet above
sea level in 1956 and declined to 0.8 feet above sea level in 1951, 1955,
1957, 1958, and 1962.
 The water level in shallow well 024-715-2 has been above the water
level in deep well 024-715-1 for most of the 23 years of record. The
greater head of water in the upper permeable beds permits some re-
charge to the lower permeable beds. However, some of the water from
the shallow zone moves laterally into Bayou Chico.
 The hydrograph of well 023-716-2 (247 feet deep) at Warrington
 shows that the highest water level was 6 feet above sea level in 1940,
 and the lowest was 4 feet below sea level in 1952. The graph shows a
 slight decline of the water level during the 23-year period, 1940-62,
 owing to increased use of ground water in the Warrington area. During
 the summers of 1943-45, 1950-58, and 1960-62, 15 of the 23 years of rec-
 ord, the water level declined below sea level. The lowering of the water
 during the summer is brought about by an increase in the use of ground
 water.
 The water level in well 021-709-8, half a mile east of the Gulf Breeze
 post office, is shown in figure 38. This well was drilled to a depth of 41
 feet and the lower 10 feet of the well was screened. During the 13-year
 period of record, the water level fluctuated 8.6 feet. The highest water
 level was 9.8 feet above sea level in 1959, and the lowest was 1.2 feet
 above sea level in 1955.
 Fresh ground water on Gulf Breeze Peninsula is derived entirely from
 local rainfall. Some of the rain water percolates quickly through the