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 quantity in some way. Once the ground water quality is such that it does not meet quality standards for potable water, treatment is required. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a membrane-based treatment process used for removal of particulates, taste/odor control, organics removal, iron removal, softening, and desalinization. Most RO facilities discharge to the ocean. The effluent contains salt and concentrated radium (which occurs naturally in marine environments). It is unclear what impacts these elevated radium concentrations have on nearshore communities.
Increases in the numbers of RO facilities is a direct indicator of decreasing ground water quality resulting from either natural or human causes. An annual analysis of this indicator could directly demonstrate increased needs for RO plants with the treatment objective of desalinization and indirectly indicate increases in saltwater intrusion.
Data Characteristics
SOURCE
Data can be obtained from Kenna Study at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Drinking Water and Ground Water Resources, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400, or at (904) 488-3601.
ACQUISITION
The data can be obtained in hard copy format at no cost.
COLLECTION
These data are collected year-round statewide.
Data Limitations
These data are limited in that DEP only received responsibility over the public water systems in 1978, at which time existing facilities were permitted. Therefore, the permit date is not always an accurate reflection of when the facilities that existed prior to 1978 began operating. In addition, the facility start-up date does not necessarily mean that reverse osmosis treatment began at the same time. Facilities may not always pump at the rate they are permitted for, which results in highly variable pumpage rates. Data on the year facilities were permitted are not readily available.
Data Analysis
As of March 1995, there were a total of 141 RO facilities in coastal counties. The treatment objectives of these plants are as follows: particulate removal (23 facilities); organics removal (30); iron removal (2); softening (8); taste/odor control (6); desalinization (15); and other (57). In 1994 there were 138 RO facilities in coastal counties, and in 1991 there were 119 facilities. These figures represent an 18.5% increase in RO facilities between 1991 and March 1995. Figures aggregated by county are not presently available for 1992 and 1993.