WATER RESOURCES OF ORANGE COUNTY 147
Floridan aquifer-underlies the area. This aquifer receives most of its recharge in the highlands areas where the overlying materials are thin and permeable. Extensive urban development would cover large areas with building and pavement, thereby increasing surface runoff and reducing recharge unless the increased runoff can infiltrate into the soil in surrounding areas or be artificially injected underground. Surface drainage in recharge areas can also decrease recharge to the Floridan aquifer. Greater understanding of the relationship between soils, streams, lakes, and groundwater aquifers and the interchange of water between them is needed if the effects of various existing and planned developmental measures are to be evaluated.
The water supply of Orange County and part of the water supplies of Seminole and Brevard counties comes from rain on or near Orange County. Every effort should be made to retain as much water in the area as possible even though immediate danger of a water shortage doesn't exist.
Evaporation nearly equals average rainfall and there are nearly twice as many years of below average as above average rainfall; therefore, the years of above average rainfall which cause flooding are of prime importance in recharging both surface and ground-water reservoirs.
Flooding is a natural, though infrequent, phenomenon and areas prone to flooding such as lake shores must be recognized if damages are to be held to a minimum. The flood waters may some day be vitally important to the area and their retention may necessitate that some developments be moved. In some instances it may be in the best interests of the area, and even less expensive, "to move the houses away from the floods rather than move the floods away from the houses."
Zoning laws may be used to prevent development in some areas subject to flooding which are privately owned, and other flood prone areas which are publicly owned can be made into parks and recreational areas which would not be greatly harmed by fluctuating water levels.
Artificial recharge of the Floridan aquifer in areas which are especially absorbtive or through wells can increase water storage and at the same time reduce peak floods in heavily developed areas.
Artificial recharge of the Floridan aquifer through wells can be most effective in the eastern part of Orange County where the piezometric surface is below land surface, lakes are scarce, and natural recharge is slight. Enormous quantities of water run off