Hydrology
The principal artesian aquifer is the largest, oldest, and deepest aquifer in the southeastern U.S. Ranging over 100,000 square miles (260,000 km2), it underlies all of Florida and The Floridan portion developed millions of years ago during the late Paleocene to early Miocene periods, when Florida was underwater. Wakulla Springs in Wakulla County, Florida is one of a number of major outflows of the Floridan with a flow rate of 200–300 million US gallons (757,082 - 1,135,623 cubic meters) of water a day. A record peak flow from the spring on April 11, 1973 was measured at 14,324 US gallons (54,220 l; 11,927 imp gal) per second - equal to 1.2 billion gallons (4,542,494 cubic meters) per day.
Groundwater in the Floridan aquifer is contained under pressure by a confining bed of impermeable sediments. When the water pressure is great enough, the groundwater breaks to the surface and a spring flows. Water temperature and flow from a Floridan spring is relatively constant.
In general, as the water flows through the Florida aquifer systems it matures. The water quality becomes more alkaline and the sulfate content increases as does the amount of dissolved solids.
Read more about this topic: Floridan Aquifer