This site was developed by the Soil and Water Science Department at the University of Florida. It is intended to serve as a reference guide to the general principles regarding our freshwater resources including springs, aquifers, and lakes. These principles are defined by water quality, quantity, primary uses, and management.
Water is the lifeblood of the environment.
Some very simple organisms can survive without air, but none can grow without water. Although Florida has more available water than most states, changes in water quantity and quality greatly affect our lives here in the sunshine state. The Florida Water Resource Primer was designed around a wide range of questions. These questions and their explanations are grouped into several key areas including water's physical characteristics, its availability both above and below ground, the uses we make of it, and how we share and manage it. The Primer also contains some practical advice on what we as individuals can do to help conserve this vital resource for our use, and for that of future generations.