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| A schematic cross section of the Florida reef tract off Key Largo shows onshore treated-sewage effluent-injection wells (grey) and offshore monitoring wells (black). Water level in all wells fluctuates with the tides, causing flow of water from the underlying limestone, as shown by arrows. Young sediments (mud shown in brown and lime sands in yellow) retard flow of water from the underlying limestone. Reefs (shown in red) are extremely porous and are likely to provide outlets for ground water forced from the limestone by changing tidal levels. Should injected sewage water migrate laterally offshore, it may eventually encounter live corals through the process of tidal pumping. |
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