Aquifer recharge and susceptibility in New Hanover County, North Carolina

The objective of this study is to delineate areas of primary groundwater recharge for the surficial, Castle Hayne, and Peedee aquifers in New Hanover County in order to determine the susceptibility of the local drinking-water aquifers. Areas of high susceptibility would coincide with groundwater recharge areas, likely where the Castle Hayne and Peedee aquifers are unconfined and directly connected with shallow surficial sands, as well as developed coastal areas prone to saltwater intrusion. Determining areas of groundwater recharge is a complex task, as many hydrologic and geologic factors must be considered, including precipitation and evapotranspiration rates, soil depth and drainage, landscape topography, and isopach maps of the aquifers and confining units in question.