Groundwater Exploration and Development: A Case Study for Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority

Abstract

The Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority (CCMWA) has taken a bold approach to developing new sources of water supplies to meet peak water supply demands. We have completed the first phase of a county-wide groundwater investigation which identified 33 areas considered hydrogeologically favorable for developing groundwater resources. The yield from these zones is estimated to be 10 to 15+ million gallons per day. Recently, two wells were drilled in a single favorable zone identified as MOU-3; combined, these wells yielded 900,000 gallons per day meeting all EPA Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Standards. The cost of developing these groundwater resources is anticipated to be one-third to one-half of that for developing alternative surface water supplies.