Moving to Florida, the land surrounded by water, one would believe that fresh water is plentiful. Water depletion, or as some have come to call it: “The Water Crisis”, affects us all directly or indirectly. The Floridian Aquifer is one of the most productive aquifers in the world. As Florida grows in population more and more fresh water is needed. With the droughts that have gripped the nation and urban sprawl moving into sensitive aquifer recharge zones. Depletion of the aquifer has been felt in the south of the state the most. Around the state of Florida sink holes are big issues. One reason that sink holes occur is the fluctuation of the aquifer’s water level. In the cold months farmers attempt to minimize crop loss by pumping large amounts of water out of the aquifer to keep plants and fruits from freezing. In turn the large amount of water pumped in a fast amount of time depletes the surrounding aquifer’s supply and a sink hole develops.
The state of Florida has recognized the importance of our aquifers due to fresh drinking water. In 2010 the state passed the Florida’s Growth Management Act and the Water Protection and Sustainability Program. With the passage of these bills the state’s five water districts will be preparing for the future in terms of water usage and aquifer sustainability. As residents of Florida we can all pitch in and do our part to help with the ever growing need to be “water wise”. You can visit the Environmental Protection Agencies website on water sense at: http://www.epa.gov/watersense/ for tips on how to be water wise in and out of your home. We must remember that water is the life of our communities, state, country and world.
Growing up in the West Texas where lakes are few and rivers run dry with the heat of the summer it is about as far from Florida’s usual summer time rain showers as one can get. Water from your well is more than a drink, it is your livelihood. Farmers use it for irrigating crops, raising livestock, and people need it for survival. I took a trip to my home town of Muleshoe, Texas over the 4th of July holiday and I spoke to a few childhood friends that have now taken over family farms. In their eye there is not much to celebrate. With the drought that has much of the state praying for rain the water under their feet from the once massive Ogallala Aquifer is receding. Now the new generations of farmers know what the old timers once feared. The balance between recharge and discharge is at an imbalance. The massive amount of water that is taken out of the Ogallala aquifer from year to year has increased over time. We must think of aquifers as bank accounts, we must make deposits along with the withdrawals. Many farmers in Bailey County have had to resort to dry land farming. This reduces the amount of crops that one can grow and also dramatically lowers the yield. The reliance of rain fall is a game of chance that calls one’s prosperity and livelihood into play. Changes in the way that crops are irrigated have helped. At one time large aqueduct systems dug out of the ground flooded the fields. It was great for the crops but not for water sustainability. A method most commonly used today is center pivot irrigation systems with use of drip sprinklers. Many advances in irrigation are coming along due to the depletion of water sources. With water conservation, the right planning of crops, and improvements in irrigation, we as a nation can feed ourselves and the world.
References:
Let me start by saying I think you picked a great topic and have put together an excellent blog.
ReplyDeleteYou have done a great job of explaining how the water table works and the topography of the land has become so ridden with sinkholes. Most people do not understand how sinkholes form. It is important for people to be aware of how the water table affects us all. I also thought your comparison of the water table to a bankaccount was spot on.
Great topic, great blog, great job.