Distribution of Ground Water Suitable for Use in Saline-Water Aquaculture in Central and West-Central Alabama

Production of shrimp in inland ponds supplied by water from saline aquifers is a potential new aquaculture industry in Alabama. Examination of 2,527 well records of the Geological Survey of Alabama and the United States Geological Survey and samples from 35 wells revealed 238 wells with chloride concentration of 125 mg/L chloride or more in 11 counties of central and west-central Alabama. Chloride concentrations varied from 136 mg/L to 94,000 mg/L. The highest chloride concentrations were from wells in Washington, Choctaw, and Clarke Counties. However, 83% of the saline-water wells in Dallas, Hale, Greene, Marengo, Wilcox, and Sumter Counties were supplied by aquifers of the Eutaw, Gordo, McShan, and undifferentiated Eutaw-McShan formations. Water from these wells had an average and standard deviation of 1,238 ± 615 mg/L chloride. Based on the frequency of saline-water wells, the number of wells with chloride concentrations above 700 mg/L (about 2 ppt salinity), and well depths, it was concluded that Hale, Greene, Marengo, and Sumter Counties have the greatest potential for saline-water aquaculture. Contour maps for chloride concentrations and depths of wells in these four counties were prepared to better delineate this potential water source for aquaculture. There were, however, areas in Lowndes, Tuscaloosa, and Wilcox Counties with saline ground water suitable for inland aquaculture.