Water supply
In this section
Water supply planning
See an overview of the District’s water supply planning work, and access planning documents and a calendar of upcoming meetings.
Alternative water supply projects
The District works with local governments and utilities to identify and implement alternative water supply projects.
St. Johns River as a water supply source
Learn about investigations into the potential use of the St. Johns River water for water supply.
Minimum flows and levels
Learn about minimum flows and levels (MFLs) and see the priority list and schedule for establishing MFLs.
Water use data management
Read a program overview and view relevant documents.
Groundwater resource assessment
Get details on groundwater modeling, recharge, observation well network and springs in the District.
Water Resource Development Work Program
View documents for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 for this program.
Additional resources
Preserving and protecting water supply
One of the core missions of the St. Johns River Water Management District is to implement a regional strategy to provide sufficient water for both people and the environment. For most of us, our main source of water comes from underground aquifers, primarily the Floridan aquifer, and that source of water is limited.
Aquifers can be thought of as vast underground, porous rocks that hold water and allow water to move through the holes within the rock. Aquifers can be composed of different types of earthen materials, such as sand, shell and limestone. Fresh and salt water fill the various sized holes in the rock. Freshwater generally fills the uppermost part of aquifers while salt water is present at greater depths.
The water stored in aquifers is replenished, or recharged, by rainfall. On average, Florida receives 50 inches of rain each year. However, not all of the rain reaches the aquifer. About 37 inches evaporates or runs off the land into surface waters before it has a chance to soak into the ground. This leaves 13 inches annually to recharge the aquifer in limited areas.
Though it may appear as though there is a vast supply of water in the aquifer system, we must maintain a balance with nature. On one side, people draw water out of aquifers for drinking and for agricultural or industrial uses. On the other side, the rain that fills aquifers is also needed in lakes, rivers, estuaries and wetlands to meet nature’s needs.
The District works daily to help maintain a balance between people’s needs and nature’s needs for today and in the future. Using too much groundwater can result in unacceptable impacts, such as drying out wetlands, reducing spring flows, lowering lake levels and degrading groundwater quality from saltwater intrusion. The District’s regulatory program works to ensure these types of impacts do not occur from permitted uses.
The District’s water supply planning program works to plan for meeting our future demands while protecting the water resources. Our underground source of water supply is reaching sustainable limits. To meet our future needs will require increased water conservation and use of reclaimed water, and development of alternative sources of water, such as river water and seawater. Increased water conservation and use of reclaimed water will delay the time until more costly alternative sources are needed.
