Potentiometric Mapping

The Groundwater Program produces potentiometric maps to evaluate water-level conditions throughout the state’s major aquifers.

Overview

The potentiometric surface of an aquifer is defined by the elevations at which water stands in tightly cased wells completed in the aquifer. Since the 1980s, the Hydrology Section, in collaboration with the U.S. Geological Survey, SCDHEC, and the U.S. Department of Energy at the Savannah River Site, has prepared numerous potentiometric maps of the major Coastal Plain aquifers in order to assess changes in groundwater storage, determine regional ground-water flow directions and hydraulic gradients, calibrate groundwater models, and identify areas experiencing excessive groundwater pumping.

Water-level data used to construct these maps are collected from hundreds of wells, including numerous monitoring wells and a variety of public-supply, industrial, agricultural, and domestic wells. Typically, the potentiometric surface of one of three major Coastal Plain aquifers is mapped each year, in November and December.

For more information about the Hydrology Section’s potentiometric mapping program, contact Andrew Wachob at wachoba@dnr.sc.gov or by phone at (803)734-6440.

pot map

Potentiometric Maps and Reports

Search for potentiometric maps by using the dropdowns below to select an aquifer and year(s).

Title Year(s) Aquifer
SCDNR Report 66: Potentiometric Surface of the Crouch Branch Aquifer in South Carolina, November–December 2020 2021 Crouch Branch
SCDNR Report 62: Potentiometric Surface of the McQueen Branch, Charleston, and Gramling Aquifers in South Carolina, November–December 2019 2020 McQueen Branch/Middendorf
SCDNR Report 61: Potentiometric Surface Maps of the Upper and Middle Floridan and Gordon Aquifers in South Carolina, November-December 2018 2018 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCDNR Report 60: Potentiometric Surface Maps of the South Carolina Coastal Plain, November-December 2016 2016 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCDNR Report 56: Potentiometric Surface of the Floridan and Tertiary Sand Aquifers in South Carolina, November 2013 2013 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCDNR Report 53: Potentiometric Surface of the Floridan and Tertiary Sand Aquifers in South Carolina, November 2010 2010 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCDNR Report 48: Potentiometric Surface of the Floridan Aquifer and Tertiary Sand Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2004 2004 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCDNR Report 23: Potentiometric Map of the Floridan and Tertiary Sand Aquifer in South Carolina, 1998 1998 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCDNR Open-File Report 6: Water-level Measurements used in the Construction of the 1998 Potentiometric Map for the Floridan Aquifer and Tertiary Sand Aquifer in South Carolina 1998 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCWRC Open-File Report 43: Water-level Measurements and Potentiometric Maps for 1991-1993 Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties, South Carolina, with Selected Hydrographs for 1975-1993 1991-1993 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCWRC Open-File Report 38: Potentiometric Surface of the Upper Floridan Aquifer, Beaufort Hampton, and Jasper Counties, South Carolina, March and July 1990 1990 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCWRC Report 157: Potentiometric Surface of the Floridan Aquifer in South Carolina, July 1986 1986 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCWRC Open-File Report 14: Water Level Conditions in the Upper Permeable Zone of the Floridan Aquifer in the South Carolina Low Country, June 1985 1985 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCWRC Open-File Report 13: Water Level Conditions in the Upper Permeable Zone of the Floridan Aquifer in the South Carolina Low Country, May 1985 1985 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCWRC Open-File Report 12: Water Level Conditions in the Upper Permeable Zone of the Floridan Aquifer in the South Carolina Low Country, March 1985 1985 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCWRC Open-File Report 20: Report on Water Level Conditions of Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, and Hampton Counties, South Carolina During March 1984 1984 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCWRC Open-File Report 16: Water Level Conditions in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, and Hampton Counties, from Data Collected during August of 1983 1983 Floridan/Gordon/Tertiary
SCDNR Report 60: Potentiometric Surface Maps of the South Carolina Coastal Plain, November-December 2016 2016 Crouch Branch/Black Creek
SCDNR Report 59: Potentiometric Surface of the Black Creek (Crouch Branch) Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2015 2015 Crouch Branch/Black Creek
SCDNR Report 55: Potentiometric Surface of the Black Creek Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2012 2012 Crouch Branch/Black Creek
SCDNR Report 52: Potentiometric Surface of the Black Creek Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2009 2009 Crouch Branch/Black Creek
SCDNR Report 47: Potentiometric Surface of the Black Creek Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2004 2004 Crouch Branch/Black Creek
SCDNR Report 29: Potentiometric Surface of the Black Creek Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2001 2001 Crouch Branch/Black Creek
SCDNR Report 16: Potentiometric Surface of the Black Creek Aquifer in South Carolina; November 1995 1995 Crouch Branch/Black Creek
SCDNR Report 60: Potentiometric Surface Maps of the South Carolina Coastal Plain, November-December 2016 2016 McQueen Branch/Middendorf
SCDNR Report 58: Potentiometric Surface of the Middendorf Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2014 2014 McQueen Branch/Middendorf
SCDNR Report 54: Potentiometric Surface of the Middendorf Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2011 2011 McQueen Branch/Middendorf
SCDNR Report 51: Potentiometric Surface of the Middendorf Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2009 2009 McQueen Branch/Middendorf
SCDNR Report 46: Potentiometric Surface of the Middendorf Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2004 2004 McQueen Branch/Middendorf
SCDNR Report 28: Potentiometric Surface of the Middendorf Aquifer in South Carolina, November 2001 2001 McQueen Branch/Middendorf
SCDNR Report 19: Potentiometric Surface of the Middendorf Aquifer in South Carolina; November 1996 1996 McQueen Branch/Middendorf