Drinking Water & Human Health in Florida

Groundwater is the source of drinking water for 90% of Florida residents. Public water supply use has

increased 134% since 1970. Data from over 1,900 wells in Florida's ambient monitoring network

indicate generally good water quality, but local groundwater contamination problems exist. Agricultural

chemicals, including aldicarb, alachlor, bromacil, simazine, and ethylene dibromide (EDB) have caused

local and regional (in the case of EDB) problems. Other threats include petroleum products from leaking

underground storage tanks, nitrates from dairy and other livestock operations, fertilizers and pesticides

in stormwater runoff, and toxic chemicals in leachate from hazardous waste sites. The state requires

periodic testing of all community water systems for 118 toxic organic chemicals.

Potential sources of groundwater contamination are numerous in Florida. The state's unique

hydrogeologic features of a thin soil layer, high water table, porous limestone and large quantities of

rainfall coupled with rapid population growth, result in a groundwater resource extremely vulnerable to

contamination. There are tens of thousands of potential point sources such as surface-water

impoundments, drainage wells, underground storage tanks, flowing saline water wells, hazardous

wastes sites, power plants, landfills and cattle and dairy feedlots. Similarly there are numerous septic

tanks and urban and industrial areas that may discharge water with undesirable quality. Non-point

sources that have vast potential for groundwater contamination include coastal saltwater bodies,

agricultural and horticultural practices, and mining. Wetlands (10.9 million acres (4.4 Mha)) provide

buffers between anthropogenic activities and water quality of lakes, streams, and groundwater.

Recognition of the function of wetlands is essential for sustainable development in Florida.

Conditions in Your Watershed

The Environmental Protection Agency provides information on drinking water systems by county. The

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Drinking Water Section lists drinking water

violations in Florida and the FDEP Source Water Program manages state surface waters.

Data on organic quality of water from the state's principal aquifers are limited;

nevertheless, occasional incidences of organic contaminants that may affect

human health and welfare are a reality. In the Northwest Florida Water

Management District the most prevalent organic contaminants are dry-cleaning

solvents and leaking underground gasoline storage tanks. Santa Rosa, Escambia

and Holmes counties in the Florida panhandle get their water from the sand and

gravel aquifer. This is the sole source for Escambia County. Wells furnishing

water for the county populati on are from two to five hundred feet deep. Ten major wells owned by the

Escambia County Utility Authority (ECUA) are contaminated. A dry-cleaning solvent (PCE) is the biggest

contaminant. Benzene, which indicates petroleum contamination, has also been identified in multiple

wells. It is important to point out that rainfall within the boundaries of the county accounts for nearly

all the available groundwater. Because of groundwater recharge characteristics, any disposal of waste

products or misuse of toxic chemicals on the land surface, whether accidental or intentional, has a high

probability for adversely impacting groundwater.

The Biscayne aquifer has been designated by the USEPA as a "sole source" drinking-water supply. The

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Biscayne aquifer is managed closely to control saltwater intrusion. Water in the aquifer is primarily a

calcium bicarbonate type that does not exceed standards for most uses. However, it is subject to

contamination by organic solvents used in industry, pesticides and nutrients used in agricultural and

urban settings, and leaking fuel storage facilities. Iron concentration in untreated groundwater is

commonly larger than the secondary standard of 300 g/L. Iron is commonly associated with the large

natural organic content of the region's groundwater resource. This large natural organic content has

contributed to the formation of trihalomethanes during chlorination of public water supplies.

The major inorganic constituent of the surficial aquifers is calcium carbonate. Concentrations of

dissolved solids are generally less than 1200 mg/L. In the intermediate aquifers, the inorganic chemical

composition is generally mixed calcium magnesium carbonate. Water in these aquifers is hard to very

hard. Nitrate, fluoride and iron concentrations generally do not exceed drinking-water standards, but

sodium, chloride and dissolved solids commonly do. Saltwater intrusion and upward movement of saline

water from deeper aquifers commonly result in unsuitable water quality for most uses.

The major inorganic constituent in the Floridan aquifer is calcium carbonate with concentration of

dissolved solids less than 500 mg/L. Although the water tends to be hard, it generally does not exceed

drinking-water standards for nitrate, fluoride, sodium and chloride. Iron may exceed the standard in

about 10% of water-quality analyses.

In predominantly agricultural regions of Florida, the frequency of drinking water wells contaminated by

nitrates exceeds the national frequency (2.4%) found in the EPA survey. Of 3949 drinking water wells

analyzed for nitrate by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, (FDACS) and the

Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2483 (63%) contained detectable nitrate and 584

wells (15%) contained nitrate above the EPA MCL (maximum contaminant level). Of the 584 wells

statewide that exceeded the MCL, 519 were located in the Central Florida Ridge citrus growing region,

encompassed primarily by Lake, Polk and Highland Counties.

Determinants of Change

The following factors impact water quality in Florida:

Population growth (increased waste generation)

Enforcement of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs)

Florida Stormwater Rule

Mandated development and implement minimum flows and levels to maintain riverine base flow to

maintain in-stream water quality, fish and wildlife habitats, and estuarine integrity.

Required use of Best Management Practices and precision application of nutrients, pesticides, and

irrigation water.

Extension Outreach

The University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service and Florida A&M University College of

Engineering Sciences, Technology & Agriculture Cooperative Extension and Outreach Program develop

and deliver programs designed to provide educational outreach into all counties of the state. Extension

education enables research conducted at colleges, universities and other places throughout the world to

be interpreted and delivered to the end user (e.g., families, business owners and agricultural

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producers). Some of the major Extension education programs addressing drinking water and human

health in Florida are:

The objective of FL412 Florida's Comprehensive Water Quality Program is to provide educational

materials, training and programs, where appropriate, in the areas of water quality assessment,

protection and improvement for diverse clientele groups in the state of Florida. It aims to increase

public awareness of the options for safeguarding drinking water quality through development and use of

Best Management Practices to enhance sustainability and protection of drinking water quality.

Youth development programs in FL714 (1962) FL214 (1890) Environmental Education help individuals

understand their interdependence with the environment, local ecosystem, energy and other natural

resources. Information that addresses all perspectives of critical issues is presented with emphasis on

maintaining the quality of human life as well as the quality of the environment. Individuals can then

make informed decisions for remediation of environmental issues with a better understanding of the

long and short term consequences of their choices.

Guidelines developed for FL114 Environmental Landscape Management in

Florida integrate landscape characteristics of site conditions, landscape

design, plant selection and placement, irrigation, fertilization, pest control,

mowing, pruning and recycling. Specifically, the Environmental Landscape

Management and Florida Yards & Neighborhoods programs teach consumers

and other stakeholders how to water efficiently, mulch, recycle yard wastes,

manage pests through IPM (Integrated Pest Management), put the right

plant in the right spot, fertilize as needed, provide food, water and shelter for wildlife, protect ground

water and surface water bodies (i.e., bays, rivers, lakes, ponds, etc.) and minimize stormwater runoff.

The FL269 Water Quality and Environmental Programs in North Florida Design Team teaches

small-scale farmers, rural families, public officials, agency representatives, local organizations,

community leaders, wholesalers and retailers about practices to enhance the quality of their drinking

and domestic water supply. This program is tailored for particular environmental conditions in northern

Florida.

The primary impact of FL316 Florida's Coastal Environment and Water Quality program involves

increased efforts to apply sustainable management to Florida's coastal and estuarine resources.

Increased understanding of ecological, economic and management principles and processes among

citizens, professionals and agency personnel is promoted. Citizens become more involved in coastal and

estuarine monitoring and management and ecological concepts are more frequently key in discussions

held by state and federal management agencies.

Scientific Research

Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Office of the Dean For Research

FAMU-CESTA Research Programs

College and University Education

Youth and continuing adult education are critical to develop new talent and human resources to address

the water quality issues of the future. Educational curricula in drinking water and human health are

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available within several colleges at the University of Florida, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences,

College of Design, Construction and Planning and College of Natural Resources and Environment. Key

courses include those found in the following areas:

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Agricultural Operations Management

Agronomy

Civil and Coastal Engineering

Environmental Engineering Sciences

Forest Resources and Natural Resource Conservation

Landscape Architecture

Pest Management – Plant Protection

Soil and Water Science

Courses addressing drinking water and human health at Florida A&M University are located within the

College of Engineering Sciences, Technology & Agriculture.

Publications

Extension Digital Information Source (EDIS)

Related Web Sites

University of Florida

Soil and Water Science Department

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

The Florida Water Resources Primer

Wetland Biogeochemistry Laboratory

Florida Farmstead Assessment System (Florida Farm*A*Syst)

Florida Homestead Assessment System (Florida Home*A*Syst)

Keep Your Well Water Clean (for adult poor readers)

Florida Yards & Neighborhoods

Federal and State Agencies

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

USGS National Water Quality Program

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Florida Department of Health and Human Services

Northwest Florida Water Management District

Suwannee River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District

Southwest Florida Water Management District

South Florida Water Management District

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