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The water shortage problem has affected all of us in one way or another. Either through the mandatory restrictions or the increased price of water, or even the ever increasing occurrence of sinkholes, the evidence of a water shortage is everywhere. Since we need water to survive, and there are no alternatives to support life on this planet, we must find a way to keep up with our ever increasing water demand. This essay reviews the water shortage problem that is occurring in Florida. The problem is getting more and more people concerned on a daily basis. Several different proposals to solve the water crisis have been proposed in the past years, most important ones being presented in this essay.
The most important proposed solution is that the recycled project be funded and allow the pilot plant to meet the ever increasing demand for water in Florida. (Bhat, 18) Formed in 1961 at the request of Governor Bryant, The Florida Council of 100 exists to promote the economic growth of Florida and to improve the economic well-being and quality of life of its citizens. It is a private, non-profit, non-partisan association whose members represent a cross-section of key business leaders in Florida. The Council was the first of its kind in the United States and works in close harmony with the Governor, the Chief Justice, and the Legislature, as well as with other private organizations to achieve its goals for all the people of Florida. The Council has other task forces and working groups on issues related to K- 20 education, Front Porch Florida, and tort reform.
The Water Management Task Force was established in the spring of 2002 to recommend statewide water management policies and recommendations that foster sustainable and environmentally sound water supplies and resources that are economically feasible to meet current and future Florida needs. Some people feel that the only viable option is to recycle the water we are using. By recycling the water, the government will be able to drop the price and stop the sinkholes from occurring and ease the mandatory restrictions placed upon us by the water shortage. The research that was completed and all the information that was gathered showed that a price of $ 50, 000 would cover all the expenses needed to set up a pilot plant, including the labor which will be done in-house. (Douglas, 51) The $ 50, 000 required will be recovered in less then a year's time, and since it will also satisfy the insatiable appetite for water, many people feel it is a viable option. The plant could be operational in 3 months upon approval of the funds. This option is both economically and environmentally feasible and a lot of people would like to see it get started as soon as possible.
Water, our most precious resource, is becoming in short demand. With water use increasing every day here in Florida, will there be enough water for everybody? We live in a state where people are migrating into every day, due to the desirable climate and recreation options. With this influx increasing at an alarming rate, where will we get the water to supply the demand? Clearly, at the present rate of use the water table is decreasing. As we see more and more sinkholes, due to the over pumping of the water table, we realize another alternative must be developed.
Pasco County's test plant Moon Lake plant has already proved worthy of the investment. (Young, 33) We use water every day and in many ways. We use water to take a shower, brush our teeth, water our lawns, wash our laundry and cars or just simply to support our very existence. Clearly we cannot do without water, and there simply is not enough to go around. As we already established, one alternative is to recycle the water.
We already treat our waste water with processes that result in a water 99. 5 % pure. If this water was to be sent to a water treatment plant to be processed along with the water already being processed, there would be plenty of water available. This water could be used as potable water, for drinking or cooking, or for laundry or irrigation. The reclaimed water could be re-injected (deep well injection) into the aquifer to offset the amount being pumped every day.
There is little or no modification required accomplishing recycling of water. Once the water completes the treatment at the waste water facility, it would be rerouted to the head, or beginning of the water treatment plant. South Florida consumes 50 percent of the fresh water used in Florida. Current demands for public water supplies in this region are greater than demands for public supplies in 39 individual states (DEP).
The Everglades Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) includes expansion of water supplies to restore the environment and partially meet the needs of a growing population. CERP plans to build 18 reservoirs among many innovative alternative water supplies. Many people are familiar with the water conflicts of the 1980 s and 1990 s in the Tampa Bay area. A regional utility, Tampa Bay Water, was established in 1998 to act as a water wholesaler / supplier to solve the water conflicts that dominated the Tampa Bay area. The utility, still the only one of its kind in Florida, is constructing major capability to provide water to member utilities.
The facilities already in use to process the water we drink now could be used with little, or in some cases no modifications. This would alleviate our water shortage problems both now and for future generations. With the reclaimed water we would not only save existing supplies, but probably drop the cost of water below that which it is now. (Bell and Leeworthy, 78) The scenario is that the water effluent leaving the wastewater plant will be sent to the headwork's of the water plant, complete the journey through the water treatment plant and sent out with the other potable water. At the present time the water leaving the waste water plant is simply used for irrigation or dumped into drying ponds. With this new technology this wasted water can be used for drinking water, saving both our resources and money that is presently being spent pumping water out of the ground. This has already been in use in for some time in New York.
There have been excellent results with this scenario in the Westbury plant. The same successful results are expected in the Moon Lake plant as well. This should alleviate the water shortage and also bring the cost of processing potable water down in the future. Overall, the water shortage is one of the largest issues in Florida.
We take water for granted, paying few dollars every month to have safe and clean water. No matter how we approach it, we have to realize there is an issue and that the solutions are out there. Whether the people of Florida turn to recycling, reusing or some other option we have to act fast since we do hear more and more about water shortage and sinkholes every week. We have to make sure that the next time we turn on the TV we dont see the breaking news about a sinkhole that destroyed homes, rather a news about a solution to this problem. Works Cited Bell, Frederick W. and Leeworthy, V.
R. , An Economic Analysis of the Importance of Saltwater Beaches in Florida. 2 - 1 - 1986. Florida Sea Grant Report 82, pp. 1 - 166. Gainesville, Florida, Florida Sea Grant Program, University of Florida. Bhat, Mahadev G, Valuation of Recreation Benefits of Marine Reserves in the Florida Keys: A Combined Revealed and Stated Preference Approach.
Environmental Studies Department, Florida International University. University Park, Miami, Florida, 1999, pp 18 - 20 Douglas, Marjory Stoneman and Ralph Stoutamire, The Key to Florida Water Crises, Keys to the Cities Series. New York: Lippincott, 1961, pp 51 - 57 Young, Harley and David York, "Reclaimed Water Reuse in Florida and the South Gulf Coast" Florida Water Resource Journal, pp. 32 - 35, 1996
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