thumbnail

Water withdrawals, use, and trends in Florida, 1985

Water-Resources Investigations Report 88-4103
Prepared in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation, Northwest Florida Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and Suwannee River Water Management District
By:
https://doi.org/10.3133/wri884103

Links

Abstract

Total water withdrawn for use in Florida for 1985, in million gal/day, was 17,057 of which 6,259, or nearly 37%, was freshwater and 10,798 was saline. The majority of freshwater withdrawn was groundwater (64%) and the majority of saline water withdrawn was surface water (99%). Thermoelectric power generation accounted for more than 99% of saline water withdrawals. Agricultural irrigation accounted for the majority of freshwater withdrawals for both groundwater (41%) and surface water (60%) in 1985.

Between 1975-85, Florida 's population increased by nearly 3 million people; tourism increased by nearly 13 million visitors; irrigated agricultural acreage increased by 70,000; freshwater used to support those activities increased by almost 388 million gal/day (excluding fresh surface-water withdrawals for thermoelectric power generation); and fresh groundwater withdrawals increased 718 million gal/day. Groundwater accounted for 64% of Florida 's total freshwater use , up from 51% in 1980 and 48% in 1975.

Florida ranked sixth in the Nation in groundwater withdrawals for 1985 with more than 4 ,000 million gal/day withdrawn. Groundwater is the primary source of freshwater in Florida because it is readily available and generally is suitable for most uses. The Floridan aquifer system, which underlies the entire State, supplied the majority (62%) of groundwater in Florida for 1985. In contrast to groundwater, withdrawals of surface water declined between 1975-85. (USGS)

Suggested Citation

Water withdrawals, use, and trends in Florida, 1985; 1988; WRI; 88-4103; Marella, R. L.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Water withdrawals, use, and trends in Florida, 1985
Series title Water-Resources Investigations Report
Series number 88-4103
DOI 10.3133/wri884103
Year Published 1988
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center
Description iv, 43 p.
Country United States
State Florida
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details