Many public water utilities in Florida draw water from shallow, porous sources such as the Biscayne Aquifer, which provides drinking water for surrounding areas. The porous limestone of these aquifers is particularly susceptible to contamination from salty seawater, agricultural runoff, and dirty rainwater.
Alarmingly, a bill passed last year allows businesses to dump sewage directly into the Biscayne Aquifer. Toxic waste from Superfund sites, leakage from septic tanks, and the rising level of the ocean all threaten the vulnerable freshwater supply in countless aquifers around the state.
A major water quality issue that has worsened with rising temperatures is the frequency of algae blooms in Florida waterways. All blue-green algae blooms are potentially toxic. To treat them, most water utilities will drastically increase the level of chlorine in the drinking water, which raises concerns about the timing and accuracy of water testing.
During a "chlorine burn", one Florida utility was caught postponing its water testing. A concerned resident conducted his own tap water test at home and discovered elevated levels of THMs, chlorine disinfection byproducts linked to heart disease and other health conditions.
Florida consistently faces water shortages and related challenges due to the difficulty of treating surface water for consumption. In addition, as the state's population continues to climb and water usage increases daily, the existing infrastructure cannot provide clean drinking water with the same reliability as before. This can expose residents to coliform from human waste, copper, lead, and algae-related toxins.
Loading Map…
