Sustain- The Florida Aquifer

When you think about Florida’s water, you may consider the more than 8,400 miles of vast shoreline. But did you know there’s a massive water supply below the surface?

Spanning 100,000 square miles, the Florida Aquifer is one of Earth’s most productive aquifers. This ancient aquifer provides more than 10 million people with drinking water in Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Although the aquifer has existed for nearly 26,000 years, this critical water source needs our immediate help.

Aquifers are bodies of sediment or rock that hold groundwater, both fresh and saltwater. The Florida Aquifer extends 2,000 feet below the surface and is composed of limestone, sand, and shell. Watch a short clip about a few of the many species that call this aquifer home.

Climate change effects, including over-extraction, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion, threaten this significant land mass. Along with learning to reduce water consumption, we can all help to reverse the effects by watering lawns less frequently. Half the water taken from Florida’s public supply is used to water private lawns. This adds up to around 900 million gallons each day!

Although large-scale changes are needed at a state and local government level, plus continued oversight for extraction, there are small steps you can take today. One of the best ways to reduce and reuse is by repurposing rainwater! Check out these helpful tips for storing and repurposing rainwater for irrigation, washing vehicles, filling a fountain, and more.

Protect the Floridian Aquifer System to help our communities today and provide generations to come with safe and clean groundwater. Small steps can go a long way in saving the springs!

Did you learn something new? Please take a moment to answer this short survey.