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Hydrogeology and effects of ground-water withdrawals in the Castle Hayne aquifer in coastal North Carolina

Proceedings of the AWRA Symposium on Coastal Water Resources, Wilmington, N.C.
By W.L. Lyke and M.W. Treece, Jr.

Abstract

The Castle Hayne aquifer is an eastward sloping and thickening wedge of limestone and sandstone in the eastern part of North Carolina. It is a major source of fresh groundwater in coastal areas of North Carolina. As the most productive aquifer in the coastal plain, more water is withdrawn from the Castle Hayne than from any other single aquifer. Maximum yields of individual wells are also greater than yields from wells in other aquifers. Of the total withdrawal of 146 million gallons per day in 1986, 72% was withdrawn for industrial use, about 18% for public water supplies, and 10% for rural domestic and agricultural uses. As a result of increasing groundwater withdrawals since about 1965, incidences of water level declines and saltwater intrusion have been recorded in eastern North Carolina. Current research on the hydrology and potential water yield of the aquifer is aimed at providing a better understanding of this system, which is needed for effective management of the resource. Ongoing studies involving the Castle Hayne aquifer include two local studies being conducted by the USGS to describe the groundwater resources and evaluate the extent of contamination at the U.S. Marine Corp Base, Camp Lejeune, in Onslow County and Marine Corps Air Station in Craven County.

Lyke, W.L., and Treece, M.W., Jr., 1988, Hydrogeology and effects of ground-water withdrawals in the Castle Hayne aquifer in coastal North Carolina, in Lyke, W.L., and Hoban, T.J., Proceedings of the AWRA Symposium on Coastal Water Resources, Wilmington, N.C., May 22-25, 1988: Bethesda, Md., American Water Resources Association, p. 469-478.