Lexi Davidson
As discussed in Part 1 of this series, the vitality and sustainability of Florida’s freshwater environments have reached a critical juncture partly as a result of sea level rise and intensifying hurricanes. Because these environments play a significant role in the overall well-being of the state and are increasingly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion and multi-source pollution, strategies that preserve them become increasingly important. In demonstration of the three tenets of sustainable development, protecting Florida’s freshwater environments from such threats would strengthen not only the health of the environment but of people and the economy as well.
Drinking Water
Florida’s aquifers provide 90% of drinking water to the state’s 23 million residents. As the salinity of the aquifer’s freshwater sources increases due to sea level rise, contaminated rainwater runoff, and commercial/industrial activities, they experience a chemical imbalance that can mobilize heavy metals and introduce toxins to soils. This creates a dual threat to drinking water through corrosion of water treatment infrastructure and soil-to-groundwater contamination. As mentioned in Part 1, long-term ingestion of saltwater can contribute to chronic disease in humans. Other contaminants can cause more immediate effects.
Depending on the contaminant, human exposure may result in waterborne illness characterized by stomach pain, diarrhea, fever, fatigue, and/or body aches. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2014 and 2024, Florida experienced 83 disease outbreaks related to drinking water, which was the highest in the country during that time period. In 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that Florida must update its criteria for evaluating the human health impacts of pollutants in its drinking water sources. The following year, the EPA proposed a rule for Florida to establish new criteria, including those for 37 additional pollutants “that are likely to be in its waters.” The rule has yet to be finalized.
Partly due to Florida’s high population growth, water quantity has also been a concern. For the majority of the last 50 years, Florida’s population has grown at twice the rate of the national average. Accommodating this growth has resulted in the “overpumping” of freshwater sources, leading the state to implement alternative methods of water sourcing. These include reclaiming domestic wastewater for non-potable purposes, desalinating brackish and seawater, and manually replenishing the state’s aquifers. Efforts to secure a sustainable water supply should also involve strict enforcement of waste management requirements for industries responsible for water pollution, including construction and agriculture. Ideally, these industries will consistently reduce their impact by progressively weaving sustainability into all stages of operation.
Recreational Water
Decreased quality and quantity of freshwater bodies can also undermine their commercial and recreational appeal, which is particularly concerning for a water-intensive tourist destination like Florida. Clean water is crucial to the state’s economic health, which is fueled largely by outdoor recreation and fisheries. The famed freshwater environments of Everglades National Park, for example, host 1 million annual visitors for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and observing protected plant and animal species. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Everglades network of wetlands and its surrounding areas contributed $683 billion to Florida’s economy in 2021. Risking unusable water in these areas would come at a high cost.
Following a long history of draining, diverting, and developing over this land, the Everglades have undergone necessary restoration projects. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) of 2000, the largest allocation for the Everglades to date, is expected to provide $23 billion from state and federal sources through 2050. Ongoing funding will be highly beneficial to support not only the health of the Everglades but of the adjoining brackish and saltwater environments, which are also economically valuable.
As in the case of freshwater for drinking, freshwater for recreation will likely face negative effects from population growth, largely in the form of new development, infrastructure, and agricultural operations. For this reason, sustainability efforts should be implemented, monitored, and evaluated by each contributing entity in both the private and public sectors. Although costly, freshwater restoration projects remain necessary to facilitate the economic vitality and eventual sustainability of these environments and of Florida itself.
Looking Ahead
Florida officials recognize the urgent need for sustainable solutions to this problem, as they estimate that population growth over the next 15 years will increase the demand on water utilities by 13 percent. Advanced technology has maximized the benefits of the state’s alternative sourcing methods, but officials acknowledge the need for additional methods and water conservation strategies. Because construction and agricultural activities have high pollution potential and tend to escalate in response to population growth, governmental sustainability planning should involve strict enforcement of water quality measures required of these industries. From sustainable sourcing to waste management, these industries have an opportunity to conserve and preserve this delicate resource.
Nonprofit organizations in Florida are actively advocating for the preservation of freshwater environments through legislative activities, fundraising, and outreach. As of January 2025, following legal action by the Florida Springs Council, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is being compelled to write a rule for the sustainable management of pumping from the state’s springs, as required by the state’s 2016 Aquifer Protection Act. Other organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy, 1000 Friends for Florida, and the Everglades Foundation are raising funds, mobilizing volunteers, and providing education to advance the health and sustainability of freshwater environments in Florida.
What We Can Do
No matter where we live, we can help to advance water security for a growing Florida population. Ensuring sustainable water sources is a global target that requires a global effort!
Nonprofit organizations
Joining nonprofit organizations in these efforts can take many forms, from in-person volunteering to engaging on social media. Follow the links below for more information:
Florida Conservation Coalition is composed of:
Trust for Public Land
1000 Friends of Florida
North Florida Land Trust
Defenders of Wildlife
Sierra Club
St. Johns Riverkeeper
League of Women Voters
Florida Wildlife Federation
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
At-home measures
To monitor the quality and maximize the quantity of your own drinking water, check out these sources from the EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Citations
Conservancy of Southwest Florida. (n.d.). Water quality. https://conservancy.org/our-work/policy/water-quality/
U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). QuickFacts: Florida. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/FL/PST045223
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, February 4). EPA researching the impacts of freshwater salinization syndrome. https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/epa-researching-impacts-freshwater-salinization-syndrome
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Germs that can contaminate tap water. https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/causes/germs-that-can-contaminate-tap-water.html
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. (2024). BEAM Dashboard. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dfwed/BEAM-dashboard.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). Proposed rule: Water quality standards to protect human health in Florida. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-11/florida-hhc-proposed-rule-factsheet-2023-11-30.pdf
Perry, M., Rogers, L., & Wilder, K. . (2022, December 22). New Florida estimates show nation’s third-largest state reaching historic milestone. U.S. Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2022/12/florida-fastest-growing-state.html
1000 Friends of Florida. (n.d.). Protecting our waters. https://1000fof.org/priorities/water/
Florida Department of Environmental Protection. (2024). Alternative water supply. https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/alternative-water-supply
National Park Service. (2025). Everglades National Park. U.S. Department of the Interior. https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm
Hindsley, P. (2024, February 1). Everglades central to Florida’s clean water economy. https://www.biscaynetimes.com/viewpoint/everglades-central-to-florida%E2%80%99s-clean-water-economy/
Congressional Research Service. (2025). Recent developments in Everglades restoration. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11336
Florida Springs Council. (2024). Springs Harm Rule legal challenge. https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/springsharmrule