Why does florida have an aquifer

Porosity refers to the pores themselves, while permeability is a measure of a rock's ability to allow fluids to move through its pores. For a rock to be permeable, its pores must be interconnected so that water can move freely.

To learn more about Florida rocks and minerals, visit Florida Rocks and Minerals page.. Hydrogeology is the study of groundwater with emphasis given to its chemistry, modes of movement, and relation to the geologic environment. Groundwater is the largest and most readily available source of potable water in Florida. Pollution, including fertilizer and sewage runoff, invasive species, excessive nutrients and erosion are also damaging the health of our springs.

We are here to help. Our springs initiative focuses on collaborative approaches to placing freshwater springs into sustainable management and lasting protection. We have been working to ensure Florida water law, rules and policies provide greater protection of water resources. We work closely with Florida legislators as well as in Washington.

In , we secured specific language included in the Florida Water Bill, requiring projects that produce water for people and nature be planned and funded together. Our language was the only new language included in the bill during the session. This legislation ensures a predictable revenue stream that will greatly improve project planning and completion to benefit the Everglades. Support Our Work in Florida. We also made important strides through policy input in Central and South Florida.

Participating in the Initiative gives us an extraordinary opportunity to shape water policies and practice in Florida. TNC is hard at work on the ground, in the water, and with local, state and federal governments, universities, other environmental organizations, businesses, and individuals to ensure our freshwater future.

If you would like to comment on this or obtain a copy of the application, please email Beth Lewis at beth. The Peace Creek Watershed is located in the heart of Central Florida, between Tampa and Orlando, which includes some of the fastest growing communities in the country. Changes to this landscape to accommodate human needs i. There are many regional water planning efforts that encompass all or a portion of this watershed.

Efforts are being made to restore wetlands, including the Everglades, make development and construction more sustainable, and create more reservoirs. In some locations, desalination plants turn brackish and saltwater into freshwater, but costs are twice as expensive. With household water use one of the fastest growing drains on the Floridan aquifer, this is a problem that everyone can help solve. Florida residents are being encouraged to irrigate or water lawns less, take shorter showers, minimize toilet flushing, and turn off faucets whenever possible.

This includes making the most of water-efficient washing machines and dishwashers and not pre-rinsing dishes, which wastes as much as 20 gallons of water per load. A dishwasher and detergent can do the work in a closed cycle that uses only five gallons of water.

If everyone altered a few of their water-wasting habits, it could make a big difference to the health of the Floridan aquifer, and help in maintaining levels of freshwater there that will reduce the risk of saltwater intrusion. But the water crisis is not restricted to Florida alone—or even California, Texas, and Arizona.

It is part of a wider national water crisis across that United States. All rights reserved. These areas are called aquifers. The water that is found underground is called ground water. There are two major aquifers in Florida: the Floridan the whole state , and the Biscayne south Florida. The Floridan aquifer is the largest and deepest in the state. It holds ground water like a sponge. Its holes allow the water to move freely through it.

The Floridan aquifer stretches for 82, square miles beneath Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. Wells are used to remove ground water from aquifers. Wells may exist in all shapes and sizes, but basically they are holes that are drilled into the aquifer. A pipe and pump are used to draw the ground water to the surface so that water may be supplied to cities, homes, and farms.

Florida has more than springs, one of the largest concentrations in the world. In addition to ground water, Florida has surface water. This is water that has not seeped into the ground and is exposed to the air.

Most of the surface water is salt water in the ocean and gulf. Florida has surface fresh water in rivers, lakes, streams, creeks, ponds, and wetlands.