SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – Look at all this water. Millions of gallons of the stuff.
We’re a peninsula. We’re basically the Italy of North America.
But here’s the problem. You can’t drink the Gulf. And right now, Florida is parched.
Many locations are sitting on more than a foot rainfall deficit. And every part of the state is now in drought.
So it might sound ridiculous to ask, could Florida actually run out of water?
Well, the water you drink doesn’t come from the Gulf. It comes from underground. Beneath our feet sits the Floridian Aquifer. Think of it like a giant natural sponge made of porous limestone. Rain soaks into the ground, filters through the rock, and becomes the drinking water for millions of Floridians.
But drought isn’t the only challenge. Florida is adding nearly a thousand new residents every day. And we’re paving over land where rainwater used to soak into the ground and refill that sponge. That means more water being pumped out and less soaking back in.
And because Florida is surrounded by ocean, there’s always saltwater pushing toward our freshwater underground. As long as the aquifer is full, the pressure keeps the saltwater out.
But when the water levels drop too far, the ocean can start creeping in. It’s called saltwater intrusion. And once your drinking water turns salty, that’s not exactly what you want in a glass of iced tea.
Florida uses billions of gallons of groundwater every day, which is why those watering restrictions aren’t just about lawns. They’re about protecting the entire system.
The system only works when rain refills the aquifer. Thankfully, Florida’s rainy season often begins by late May. Until then, every drop we save helps keep the water flowing.
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