Canepa said the pilot study won't use much water from the St. Johns River. The average flow of the river is something like 3,000 million gallons per day. Although the district has previously announced the study, some local officials are just learning about it. Canepa said, again, that's because the need for water will be greater further south. District officials anticipate a shortage of water because of the large influx of people to the state, not because of the drought.
Some conservationists are worried about the pilot study.
They say it would be wiser for the state to control growth and population. Currently most residents get their drinking water from the aquifer, but officials are concerned that supply could simply dry up in the years to come.