According to estimates, Florida has a need for an additional 1.3 billion gallons of water per day by 2030 to accommodate a population of 23.6 million people. Additionally, the three largest water management districts predict a shortfall of 250 million gallons per day in groundwater by 2035 in the area just south of Orlando, and a need for 34 percent more water in 2035 is predicted in Northeast Florida. Similarly, South Florida faces an anticipated increase of 25 percent in overall demand by 2030.
Large increases in demand for water are predicted for various regions throughout the state by 2030, when Florida’s population is expected to reach 23.6 million people, requiring an additional 1.3 billion gallons of water per day. Because of the time and expense of meeting these demands, Florida must work to do so now. Some regions of Florida have unique conditions that should also be addressed.
Fortunately, Florida receives rain in abundance: 54” per year, making it the fifth wettest state in the nation. Florida’s flat terrain, however, means much of this rainfall runs into the ocean before it can be captured.
In a state with 54" of annual rainfall, the real shortage is the lack of water storage and development of alternative sources of water around the state. Because storage and new water sources can’t be developed overnight, our cities that won’t have enough groundwater must start working on it today. So what should Florida farmers, businesses, and consumers do? Leaders should consider supporting projects that increase the use of reclaimed water, brackish groundwater, captured stormwater, surface water and water conservation programs. There are also a host of innovative ideas for expanding our water supply, including storing water on leased farm land which has been used by the South Florida Water Management District and pursuing public-private partnerships for treatment and aquifer recharge.