AN ANALYSIS OF THE HYDROGEOLOGY AND WATER QUALITY OF THE SURFICIAL CASTLE HAYNE AND PEEDEE AQUIFERS IN NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

Rapid growth in greater New Hanover County, North Carolina has placed a vital demand on drinking water resources for the area. The most critical effect of land usage is the contamination to the aquifers from mining, industrial use, aquaculture groundwater withdrawals and public supply and demand. The study area is located in Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties, geographically in Southeastern North Carolina in the Coastal Plain Province. The field area covers 1,488 square miles of generally flat topography in which 626 square miles are surface water.

Methods of hydrogeological investigation include, analysis of lithologic data, geophysical logs, groundwater levels and water quality describing the current state of these aquifers. Current and historic water-level, water- quality and water-isotope data is included in the investigation to present the perimeter between fresh and brackish water in the study area. This is of particular interest due to the correlation of ground-level water deceasing and salt water intrusions.

The water-quality analyses combined with the well-log data shows a vertical displacement of groundwater flow that is possibly affected by land usage along with higher iron and chloride concentrations. Due to the decrease of groundwater altitude of the Peedee and Castle Hayne Aquifers, evidence is supportive to lead to further freshwater and saltwater intrusions inland if continued groundwater withdrawal process continues on.