Full Description

The Biscayne Aquifer has provided a safe, consistent water supply for many years but appears to have reached itssustainable yield. Lake Okeechobee is an 80 year old reservoir. High nutrient levels from agricultural inputs haveover-eutrophied it over time. Since water quality is critical in the Everglades, polluted water is diverted to tide(which may have negative coastal impacts) which reduces water quantities for the Everglades. The result is that theEverglades receives less water than it needs, the Biscayne Aquifer does not receive proper recharge, and urban usershave less water available to them. Reduced levels of water in Lake Okeechobee prevents maintenance of coastalcanal levels, which drains the Biscayne Aquifer further, aggravating the water supply problem for south Floridaresidents. Hence, the periodic droughts are actually a not a true water supply issue, but a management problem.With growth in customer demands, flood control priorities, and realization of ecosystem needs and water quality,management of the supply has become more difficult. CERP identified many projects that are supposed to improvemanagement, timing and availability of water supplies. Unfortunately, delays to some of the CERP projects haveresulted in the SFWMD having to cap Biscayne Aquifer withdrawals for southeast coastal utilities. To address thisissue, the SFWMD has identified four options that they want utilities to pursue. While each option has advantages and disadvantages, each also has costs and risks to the utility and its customers.A fifth, more regional option might accomplish more. Such an option is found in the alternatives of the originalEverglades restoration planning documents - regional recharge facilities. While the cost would be expensive - $5-10 billion, the benefits may be far more significant than any option offered to date because with proper permitting,this option would deliver 500 MGD of extremely high quality water to the Everglades, and would recharge theBiscayne Aquifer at the same time. The benefit would allow local officials to pursue their current water resourceand supply programs from the Biscayne Aquifer, while protecting the Biscayne Aquifer from unknown risks withreclaimed water application. Includes 10 references, tables, figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 02/01/2008 Number of Pages: 53File Size: 1 file , 2.9 MB