Explanation of Indicator
Florida’s coastal counties depend on their water resources for drinking water, agriculture, industry, and to support the many diverse natural systems found there. Unfortunately, nearly all human activities may adversely affect ground water quality and qu antity in some way. For example, development pressure in coastal areas may result in increased runoff and sedimentation of nearshore benthic communities. In addition, the state is expected to grow at a rate of three percent annually, with most of the gr owth concentrated in coastal areas where the water resources are already being threatened by over-consumption, contamination, and saltwater intrusion.
Commercial-industrial water withdrawals include fresh, surface and ground waters used by government, military, schools, prisons, hospitals, recreational entities, manufacturers, mining facilities, and processing facilities. For the purposes of this indic ator, information on all these users is included.
The percent change in total water withdrawal will reflect the ability to more efficiently conserve and utilize this limited resource. It will also indicate the availability of water resources for other uses (e.g., ecological management).
Data Characteristics
SOURCE
The Water Resources Division of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is the lead office for this information. The USGS publishes a report, Water Withdrawals, Use, and Trends in Florida, every five years which contains these data. The report is pre
pared in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the water management districts. The publication is prepared by Richard L. Marella, who can be contacted at the USGS, 227 North Bronough Street, Suite 3015, Tallahassee
, Florida 32301, or at (904) 942-9500, extension 3004.
ACQUISITION
This information can be obtained in a hard copy format from the Water Resources Division of the USGS. There are no costs associated with obtaining this information.
COLLECTION
The information is collected statewide throughout the year by both DEP and the water management districts, and it is compiled for the above-mentioned publication about every five years by the USGS.
Data Limitations
When data on quantities of water withdrawn are only displayed for every fifth year, anomalies may exist for any particular year, which could lead to an incorrect interpretation. If a given year has above or below normal precipitation (extremely wet or dr
y) or has an event like a hurricane, the water use value will most likely be skewed for that year.
Data Analysis
From 1965 to 1970, commercial-industrial self-supplied water withdrawals increased, and then they declined until 1985. Withdrawals increased again between 1985 and 1990. In 1990 the commercial-industrial self-supplied withdrawal of water for the entire s
tate was 770 million gallons per day (mgd), or about 11% of the fresh water used daily. The commercial-industrial self-supplied withdrawal of water in coastal counties was 425.3 million gallons per day. Decreases in commercial-industrial self-supplied w
ater withdrawals could be attributed to several factors. First, many commercial and industrial facilities once had their own private wells, but have switched over to public supply systems. Second, the larger commercial and industrial facilities are usin
g water more efficiently and have adopted better conservation measures. Finally, there has been a general change in Florida’s economy away from the industrial-commercial sector and toward the service industries. The increase in commercial-industrial sel
f-supplied water withdrawals from 1985 to 1990 may be attributed to expansion of existing facilities or the opening of new facilities.
Year Ground Water (MGD) Surface Water (MGD) Total Withdrawal (MGD) 1965 330.8 105.9 436.7 1970 350.5 125.7 476.2 1975 325.9 130.4 456.3 1980 301.0 61.3 362.3 1985 291.4 53.9 345.3 1990 297.0 128.3 425.3