Could LDS FL wells lead to increase in sink holes?

[helemon]

I was reading an article today about the increased number of insurance claims being made in the Tampa area for damage from sink holes. The article mentioned that one thing that could cause sinkholes to develop is well fields. Considering the large amount of water the church pumps out of its FL wells I was wondering if it could cause an increase in sinkholes developing in the Orlando area? The counties mentioned in the article were Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco which are around Tampa Bay.

[dogzilla]

I will have to do some research on this, but I don't think so.

Sinkholes can open up for no reason at all, so I don't see why well fields would necessarily make them worse or make them open up more often or bigger or anything like that. They are just another part of life here, like alligators and hurricanes. Yes I wrote that sentence as if hurricanes are routine, like rain. :D (Well, they are... to me.)

Geology Lesson for Florida:

Florida (except for the Keys, which are atolls made of coral) sits atop what is known as a limestone karst, (or crust, sort of), which is a layer of very thin limestone, which is extremely porous. As rain falls and water drains into the ground (thus filling the Floridan Aquifer, which supplies water to Florida, Georgia, Alabama and a few other bits of the South), the limestone dissolves. Over time, enough limestone can dissolve in one place so that a vast underground cave opens up. Of course, this means all the soil and whatever is on top of the soil now has nothing supporting it so, whammo! Everything collapses into the sinkhole, which could gobble up your house.

This is not a process that is dramatic as an earthquake, for example. It's pretty slow. One day you could go out in your yard and see a funky little depression. The next day it's a 5' crater. A week later, your house and the rest of your block is at the bottom of a 75' crater.

What is more disturbing to me is: what the hell are all these mormons doing in the middle of my state? No wonder JEB! won his last election. (He is not actually all that bad.) I just learned that one of my seminary classmates is now DA in Orlando... she lives near the temple there. Egad. (Which begs the question: how is someone that smart able to deal with the cognitive dissonance of being uber smart and a mormon at the same time?)

[peter_mary]

(Which begs the question: how is someone that smart able to deal with the cognitive dissonance of being uber smart and a mormon at the same time?)
You know...it's that little brain-switch thingy that they flip on at work, and off at church. It's a very handy accessory, and highly recommended for all intelligent members. You can get them in a variety of colors, and the new ones include an MP3 player so you can download hymns to blair in your brain anytime you have doubting thoughts. Very handy.

[helemon]

I will have to do some research on this, but I don't think so.


I think the idea is that if the water is removed from the aquifer ther isn't any pressure from the water supporting the limestone caverns which can increase their likelihood of collapsing. Kinda like an empty soda can.

[dogzilla]

I think the idea is that if the water is removed from the aquifer ther isn't any pressure from the water supporting the limestone caverns which can increase their likelihood of collapsing. Kinda like an empty soda can.

Actually, you have it backward. In fact, there is quite a vast system of underground caves in the panhandle here, and none of them are completely full to the top with water. (Because the Mormons are sucking us DRY! Ba-dum-bump. I'll be here all week.) From this site (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/feedback/faq.htm#1):

"Why do sinkholes form?
Sinkholes form in karst terrain principally from the collapse of surface sediments into underground cavities in the limestone bedrock. Slightly acidic ground water slowly dissolves cavities and caves in the limestone over a period of many years. When the cavity enlarges to the point that its ceiling can no longer support the weight of overlying sediments, the earth collapses into the cavity. In the less catastrophic, type of sinkhole, a bowl-shaped depression forms at the surface, usually over a considerable period of time. Well drilling data suggests that much of the underlying bedrock in Florida is riddled with cavities of differing size and depth. However, relatively few ever collapse and directly effect roads or dwellings. Karst terrains develop in areas underlain by carbonate rocks such as limestone. They often have drainage systems that are reflected on the surface as sinkholes, springs, disappearing streams or even caves. The term karst, therefore, refers to the terrain and the term sinkhole is one of the types of drainage features reflected by that type of terrain. In Florida you may see solution sinkholes, cover-subsidence sinkholes or cover-collapse sinkholes. The first of these three, solution sinkholes, usually occur where there is little or no sediment cover over the limestone. The rock is readily dissolved away at the ground surface or along joints or other openings. Cover subsidence sinkholes are located where thick permeable sediments cover the limestone. In this case the void in the rock is filled by sediments slumping downward from above. Eventually, the ground surface often shows a gentle circular depression. If a relatively thick layer of impermeable sediments covers the limestone there may not be a surface expression of a subsurface collapse Cover-collapse sinkholes occur where sediments that overlie the void in the rock suddenly collapse due to triggering mechanisms such as heavy rainfall, drought, or mechanical loading. Generally speaking karst terrains are not newsworthy items. Typically, it is only when a road or house happens to be located above developing karst features such as a sinkhole that headlines are made. Since much of Florida is karstic in nature, these same processes are continually taking place. As such, there is a certain degree of risk in living on karst. However, most people accept the risk as one price to pay for living in the sunshine state."

That said, another question below answers your question, italics and bold are mine:
"Will watering our lawn lower the water table level and thus, cause sinkholes to develop in our neighborhood?
Probable triggering mechanisms for sinkhole collapse may include drought, new construction, blasting, heavy ground loading, heavy rainfall, and heavy ground-water pumpage. Private lawn wells are typically not sufficient to impact the water table enough to cause sinkholes."

Given that the church probably isn't restricting itself to minor lawn watering of church buildings, and we know already that there is a huge ranch down there, as well as a bunch of other agricultural and real estate holdings... I'd say then that the likelihood of the mormons causing my home state to sink slam into the ground is much higher than I thought it would have been. Figures.

Another cool website about sinkholes: http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/guide/sinkholes.html

This one talks about Lake Jackson, which is a couple miles from my house. There's a sinkhole at the bottom of a huge lake. Every generation or so, the lake drains like a bathtub. It did this a few years ago. Which caused all the treehuggers to run out to the lake bed and pick up as much trash and polluting crap as they could haul away. Pretty interesting stuff, if you're a big science geek like me.

[free thinker]

What is more disturbing to me is: what the hell are all these mormons doing in the middle of my state?


My understanding is that they are raising cattle there. They have a very large cattle ranch in Fla.

Remember the Blues Brothers movie? " Ok Rawhide in the key of C " . :D

" Dont try to understand em, just rope em, tie em, brand em , and she'll be waiting at the end of your ride". :D Rawhide!! :cool:

ft

[dogzilla]

What is more disturbing to me is: what the hell are all these mormons doing in the middle of my state?


My understanding is that they are raising cattle there. They have a very large cattle ranch in Fla.

Remember the Blues Brothers movie? " Ok Rawhide in the key of C " . :D

" Dont try to understand em, just rope em, tie em, brand em , and she'll be waiting at the end of your ride". :D Rawhide!! :cool:

ft

LOL

Now you know what I'll be singing next time I have to drive down there to the peninsula. Funny that word is so close to "penis" which is exactly what this state is shaped like... (You notice these things sitting in gridlock, staring at the license plate in front of you.)

[noodle]

LOL

Funny that word is so close to "penis" which is exactly what this state is shaped like... (You notice these things sitting in gridlock, staring at the license plate in front of you.)

Ah...thus a double meaning to the bumper sticker that followed the '00 erection (er, election): "Electile Dysfunction." ;)

mamajama

[dogzilla]

Ah...thus a double meaning to the bumper sticker that followed the '00 erection (er, election): "Electile Dysfunction." ;)

mamajama

You betcha.

Check this out. http://cabinetmagazine.org/phallic/mostvotes.php

This is the Capitol building. Note how the Senate and House buildings, on either side of the Capitol, suspiciously resemble testicles. Oh, I notice from my link that this building got the most votes as the world's most phallic building. I'm so proud.

Coinkydink? I think not... ;)