Groundwater Issues in Florida

Robert Brinkmann
[email protected]
USF Karst
Research Group
USF Department of Geography
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Review Groundwater Reserves in Florida
Summarize Aquifer Characteristics
List Several Impacts to Florida’s Aquifers
Provide Examples of Innovative Solutions to
Groundwater Problems—Quantity and Quality
Sand and
Gravel
Floridan
Aquifer
Intermediate
Confining
Unit
Surficial
Biscayne
Source: Florida DEP
Potable
Non
Potable
Source: Florida DEP
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Source of majority of groundwater in north
and central Florida.
Source of many of Florida’s rivers and
springs.
Highly vulnerable to pollution and
drought/withdrawals
Surficial, Sand and Gravel, and Biscayne
Aquifers
Sand and
Gravel
Aquifer
Surficial
Aquifer
System
Biscayne
Source: Florida DEP
Sand and Gravel Aquifer
Sand and Gravel
Aquifer
Main drinking water
supply in western
panhandle
Source: Florida DEP
Surficial Aquifer
Surficial
Aquifer
System
Largely local
domestic and
municipale
use.
High risk of
pollution.
Source: Florida DEP
Biscayne Aquifer
Biscayne
Main source of
water for Dade
and Broward
County and for
the Keys (via
pipeline)
Highly vulnerable
to pollution and
saltwater
intrusion.
Source: Florida DEP
Intermediate
Aquifer
System
Main water
supply for
Sarasota, Lee,
and Charlotte
Counties.
High agricultural
use.
Source: Florida DEP
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500 percent increase in withdrawals from the
Floridan Aquifer in SE U.S. from 1950 to
2000.
2000 rate withdrawals were 4,020 Mgal/d
Public Supply
Private Wells
Irrigation
Industrial
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Shape
Porosity
Permeability
Lithology
Source: USGS
Highly porous-vugs,
caverns.
Highly permeable.
Porosity and
permeability vary
considerably.
Highly
interconnected.
From: www.floridacaves.com
From: www.floridacaves.com
Land subsidence
sinkholes
regional decline
Loss of wetlands
Lowering of water table
Loss of domestic wells
Lowering of spring volume
Salt water intrusion
Measuring pollution
at Florida Springs
provides information
about issues with
groundwater.
Nitrogen, e coli
Source: Florida DEP
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Local groundwater pollution
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Old petroleum storage
Mining pollution
Dry cleaners
New concerns
 Pharmaceuticals
 Hormones
 New organic chemicals
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Concern for humans
◦ Water supply
◦ Recreation
◦ Agricultural and industrial uses
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Ecological Concerns
◦ Organism level
◦ Ecosystem level
From the National Science
Foundation
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Why so many problems?
Source: Tampa Tribune
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Water
management
districts
◦ Holds down
state water
conflict.
◦ Promotes wise
use, planning,
and
management.
Source: Florida DEP
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Metropolitan water
management
-Prevents local
water wars.
-Focuses on
developing local
water projects.
-Develops
sustainable water
use.
Source: Tampa Bay Water
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Desalination
◦ After slow start, Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination
plant produces 25 million gallons of water per day.
◦ Largest desal plant in North America
◦ Model for other communities.
Source: Tampa Bay Water
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C.W. Bill Young
Reservoir
◦ Stores runoff from
rainy season for use
during the dry season
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C.W. Bill Young
Reservoir
◦ Stores runoff from
rainy season for use
during the dry season
◦ Holds 15 billions
gallons of water
◦ Produce 25% of water
use in Tampa Bay for
6 months.
◦ Other reservoirs
being planned
Source: Tampa Bay Water
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Many challenges, particularly with nitrate
pollution
◦ Rethinking fertilizer use, scrubbers for coal power
plants, storm water management.
◦ Extensive monitoring for nitrate in spring systems.
◦ Peaks in the late 20th century, starting to see
reductions in the early 21st century.
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Integrated approach to examining pollution
cycles.
◦ Tools:
 GIS
 Data base analysis
 Monitoring
Nitrogen dioxide
monitoring stations
(source: Florida DEP)
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Florida is:
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Florida has some challenges
◦ A leader in water quantity management
◦ A leader in water quality management
◦ Rural vs. urban water uses
◦ Central vs. coastal water uses
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Some trends:
◦ Sustainability efforts (local water storage, green
roofs)
◦ Grass roots interest in local water use