Alabama's Groundwater: Part I

Alabama is divided into five groundwater provinces: the Coastal Plain, Piedmont, Valley and Ridge, Cumberland Plateau, and Highland Rim.

Valley and Ridge
The limestone aquifers in the Valley and Ridge feed many springs including Coldwater Spring, which has an average discharge of 31.2 million gpd. Few springs approach the flow rate of Coldwater Spring; however, large springs are common in the Valley and Ridge because of conduit flow in limestone and dolomite aquifer.

Cumberland Plateau
Springs in the Cumberland Plateau are common, yielding 10 to 100 gpm of water from
limestone, sandstone and shale.

Highland Rim
The Highland Rim includes two of Alabama’s biggest springs, Tuscumbia Big Spring and Huntsville Big Spring. The Bangor Limestone and Hartselle Sandstone supply minor amounts of groundwater, mostly from wells producing 10 gpm or less.
Source