Florida Water Geek

  Looking at Water from a Century Ago to the Next 100 Years Last week I attended a seminar by the Young Professionals of the American Water Works Association , Florida Section-- A Century of Water: Lessons from the Past, Vision for the Next 100 Years . The sessions were not only interesting, but thought provoking, so I wanted to recap and share some of the main points I believe are important. 100 Years of Hialeah and the Future of Water Virginia Walsh, P.G., Ph.D., Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department The presentation started with a history the Hialeah Water Treatment Plant that was placed in service in 1924 and the wells that were permitted to supply the water. This water plant is still active and looks as beautiful today.  From there, Ms. Walsh reviewed the various permits and modifications for the Hialeah water system over the years.  Permits for water treatment systems are based on a number of factors, which include water sources , treatment methods , water usage an...

  Water for People and Progress Photo from SIWI Website Water for People and Progress --that is the theme for this year's World Water Week, August 23 through 27, 2026. World Water Week is organized and hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) each year. The conference brings together researchers, policy makers, and boots-on-the-ground people to advance solutions to water issues. It's one of the leading global conferences on all things water. SIWI is an independent, non-profit organization. While it's based in Stockholm, Sweden, SIWI operates globally to work on water security and sustainability for all.  You Can Attend! Most of us can't drop everything and pay for a trip to Sweden to attend a conference. But the good news is that anyone who wishes can attend online for free . The schedule is available on the World Water Week website .  Register here for the Online Full Access Pass free of charge . (Sorry this is too late for Monday - but the remaini...

  Yesterday was National Backflow Prevention Day! I'm a day late - but wanted to bring your attention to these critically important devices and the people who work on them. What is a Backflow Preventer? A backflow preventer is a device that is used to protect the drinking water systems from contaminants that could backflow into them. All industries and commercial businesses are required to have backflow preventers on their incoming potable water service lines. As an example, an industrial plant may use water to mix with chemicals. Normally, the water distribution system is pressurized. But if pressure is lost, for instance due to a fire or large water break, the water in the industrial plant could flow backwards into the utility's distribution system. The backflow preventer keeps this from happening.  In addition to industrial and commercial facilities, backflow preventers must also be installed if a property has a private well that could possibly be connected to the water se...

Discover One of the Largest Springs in the World-- Wakulla Spring Wakulla Spring - Photo by Donna Kaluzniak© Florida has an estimated 1,000 freshwater springs, and 31 are designated as first-magnitude. First-magnitude springs have a flow of at least 64.6 million gallons per day. One first-magnitude spring is Wakulla Spring , located 14 miles south of Tallahassee, in Edward Ball Wakulla Spring State Park. With a flow of about 400 million gallons per day , it more than meets first-magnitude criteria.  Wakulla Spring is also designated as one of 30 Outstanding Florida Springs ,  which requires additional protection for conservation and restoration.  Wakulla Spring is one of the largest and deepest springs in the world . Fed by the Upper Floridan Aquifer , it discharges mostly to the Wakulla River, which feeds the St. Marks River that flows to the Apalachee Bay Estuary.  The spring vent is located 180 feet below ground, connected to over 40 miles of caverns and tunnels t...

  Important Information About Your Drinking Water Sarasota County Water Quality Report Notice Every community water system is required to provide annual Water Quality Reports (also called Consumer Confidence Reports) to all customers by July 1 each year.  These reports may be mailed, or a link to the report may be included on your bill and/or in a local newspaper. Most water utilities also have an easy-to-find link to the report on their website. If you cannot find your report, contact the utility department and request a copy.  You may also be able to find a copy on EPA's Consumer Confidence Report website , or you can call EPA's SAFE WATER HOTLINE at 1-800-426-4791. What Does Your Water Quality Report Tell You? Your Water Quality Report first gives you basic information about your drinking water: The source of your drinking water (which aquifer, river, lake, etc.) and treatment methods A summary of Florida DEP's assessment of any potential contamination of the so...

Have you ever wondered . . .  Where your drinking water comes from? How it gets treated?  How it's delivered to your faucet?   Your Water Utility Water Tower at Fantasy of Flight, Polk City Photo by Donna Kaluzniak In Florida, about 88% of people get their drinking water (also called potable water) from a utility.  The rest of the population have their own private wells. Some utilities provide more than just water. They may also include electric, gas, or sanitation.  Public water systems (PWS) --are water utilities that are owned by a local government or agency. They serve about 93% of Florida's population. Sometimes the water utility is part of a city or county public works department.  Florida has nearly 5,000 public water systems, but only about one-third (1,585) are community water systems that provide drinking water to homes year-round. The remaining two-thirds serve businesses, schools, campgrounds, factories, and other nonresidential facilities. Priv...

Your Drinking Water Sources C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir - Tampa Bay Water The answer is. . . it depends on your location.  To find the source of your community's drinking water, check your annual Water Quality Report (also called a Consumer Confidence Report ). This report should either be mailed to you or a website link provided for you. It should also be available on your water utility's website. Most Florida communities rely on  groundwater , typically from underground  aquifers .  Some utilities use  surface water  (rivers, lakes and reservoirs) a source.  Utilities in certain areas of the state, such as Tampa Bay Water , blend water sources, including seawater .  And more recently, source water may be augmented with reclaimed water. An  aquifer  is an underground layer of rock, sand, or gravel that stores water—like a huge natural sponge beneath our feet. Rainwater seeps through the soil and eventually collects in the spaces...

  How is Your Drinking Water Treated to Ensure Safety? Source water (sometimes called "raw" water) is pumped through pipelines to a  Water Treatment Plant (WTP) , where it goes through processes to remove contaminants.  Many utilities have more than one WTP. There are often multiple wells, reservoirs, or other sources. Having multiple facilities provides redundancy, which is especially important in case of emergencies or natural disasters. The WTPs are usually located as close to the source as possible, which reduces the cost for pipeline construction and pumping.  The type of treatment needed to provide safe drinking water depends upon the quality of the source water.  For instance, in northeast Florida, most of the water comes from a confined portion of Floridan Aquifer  (a confined aquifer) 500 to 1200 feet below the earth's surface. A confined aquifer is one that is covered by a rock, clay, or sediment layer that slows down or prevents groundwater ...

  The Amazing Floridan Aquifer An aquifer is an underground layer of permeable rock or sediment that holds or transmits water. The Floridan Aquifer is one of the most productive aquifers in the world. It stretches approximately 100,000 square miles throughout Florida, and parts of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It's the main source of drinking water for almost 10 million people. In Florida, the aquifer provides about 4 billion gallons of water per day--about 90 percent of Florida's drinking water and a large share of agricultural and industrial use. The Floridan Aquifer also supplies numerous springs in the state.  The Floridan Aquifer is composed mostly of limestone and dolomite, with cracks and crevices that allow the water to seep through. Some of the layers are confined within clay, so they build artesian pressure.  A good lesson on aquifer geology is on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection website.  Much of the water in the aquifer, espec...

  The Water Distribution System Once the water has been treated to meet all federal, state, and local regulations for drinking water, it is pumped into  storage tanks . Storage allows for fluctuations in water usage and holds enough water for emergencies and fire protection. Some of these are  ground storage tanks  and others may be  elevated tanks  (water towers). Elevated tanks not only store water, but help to regulate pressure in the system.  Pumps  then send drinking water into the  water distribution system . Pumps provide pressure in the system, usually around 60 to 75 pounds per square inch (psi), allowing water to flow into buildings throughout the community.  Note that in Florida, a measurable disinfectant (chlorine or chloramine) must be added to the water just before entering the distribution system. A minimum chlorine residual of 0.2 parts per million or milligrams per liter (mg/L) must be maintained throughout the system - ...

  Florida Water Shortages It seems like Florida's been getting more rain. But several areas in Florida are still under a Phase II Severe or Phase III Extreme Water Shortage. This means increased restrictions on irrigation and other water uses. Who makes the call about water shortages and what restrictions are in place? Why is it important to follow the restrictions? Florida's five Water Management Districts determine the Water Shortage Phase for each of their areas. Hydrologists use rainfall data, water flows, groundwater levels and water usage to determine if there is sufficient water to meet the needs of the population.  Even if there seems to be plenty of rainfall, a lengthy drought can greatly diminish water supplies. Replenishing our aquifers and increasing our stream flows can take a lot of time.  Also, the rain may not be located in a recharge area. For instance, water supply in the Jacksonville area is from a confined portion of the Floridan Aquifer. Rain falling...