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Water-Quality Comparison of the Gulf Coast Aquifer System and Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Texas From National Water-Quality Assessment Project Principal Aquifer Surveys, 2013 and 2015

Fact Sheet 2020-3009
U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20203009

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Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project assessed the quality of groundwater in aquifers that are important sources of drinking water in the United States. One major aquifer in Texas that was assessed by NAWQA in 2013 is the coastal lowlands aquifer system, which is often referred to in Texas as the “Gulf Coast aquifer system.” The coastal lowlands aquifer system supplies water for millions of people; self-supplied (private) well withdrawals in 2005 from this aquifer system were the sixth largest among all major aquifer systems in the Nation. A major aquifer in Texas that was assessed by NAWQA in 2015 is the Texas coastal uplands aquifer system; the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer is one of several aquifers that compose this aquifer system in Texas. The rocks composing the Texas coastal uplands aquifer system extend east from Texas as part of the Mississippi embayment aquifer system and underlie areas of several States. The Texas coastal uplands aquifer system and Mississippi embayment aquifer system are often collectively referred to as the “Mississippi embayment-Texas coastal uplands aquifer system.” Self-supplied withdrawals from the Mississippi embayment-Texas coastal uplands aquifer system in 2005 were the eighth largest among all major aquifer systems in the Nation. The coastal lowlands aquifer system and Mississippi embayment-Texas coastal uplands aquifer system were assessed as part of the NAWQA Principal Aquifer Surveys (PAS), which were designed to evaluate constituent concentrations in water samples obtained from domestic and public-supply wells prior to any treatment. PAS assessments like these allow for the comparison of water-quality concentrations in untreated groundwater using preestablished benchmarks for the protection of human health and for aesthetic qualities such as taste, color, and odor. The use of preestablished benchmarks can provide a basis for comparison of groundwater quality among principal aquifers.

Suggested Citation

Ging, P.B., 2020, Water-quality comparison of the Gulf Coast aquifer system and Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in Texas from National Water-Quality Assessment Project Principal Aquifer Surveys, 2013 and 2015: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2020–3009, 4 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20203009.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Overview of Water-Quality Sampling and Benchmarks for Evaluating Groundwater Quality
  • Water-Quality Results for the Gulf Coast Aquifer System and Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water-quality comparison of the Gulf Coast aquifer system and Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in Texas from National Water-Quality Assessment Project Principal Aquifer Surveys, 2013 and 2015
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2020-3009
DOI 10.3133/fs20203009
Year Published 2020
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Texas Water Science Center
Description 4 p.
Country United States
State Texas
Other Geospatial Gulf Coast aquifer system, Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer
Online Only (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details