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Seminar To Explain Water's Travels

By TONY MARRERO

Published: January 2, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE - op quiz: What is karst and why is it important to drinking water?

A hint: You're walking above it, and the aquifer is below it.

An engineer from the Southwest Florida Management District, also known as Swiftmud, will be on hand at the county's next Water Awareness seminar on Friday to explain the hydrological workings of Hernando County and how the geology here affects our water supply.

The seminar will take place from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hernando County Utilities Department at 21030 Cortez Blvd. in Brooksville. Admission is free.

"We feel it is important that people living and workingin this area understand where their water comes from and how it moves across the county," said Alys Brockway, the county's water conservation coordinator. "This will help to further the reasoning that protection of our natural resources is imperative."

Karst is a special type of landscape that is formed by the dissolution of soluble rock such as limestone. It's especially prevalent in Hernando County; characteristics of karst landscape are sinkholes and springs.

It means water that hits the surface goes relatively easily and quickly into the Floridan Aquifer, said Mark Barcelo, manager of Swiftmud's hydrologic evaluation section. Barcelo is expected to give the presentation Friday.

"You have to be careful what you do because it can affect your groundwater quality," Barcelo said.

The Water Awareness Series is sponsored by the Hernando County Utilities Department and the Citizens for W.A.T.E.R. The series programs occur monthly and include presentations on a variety of water conservation-related issues.

For more information, contact Alys Brockway at 352-540-4368, Ext. 35139, or visit http://www.hernandocounty.us/utils/CFW/waterawaren....

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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