Where our water comes from: Biscayne Bay Aquifer

​The Biscayne Bay Aquifer is of the primary source of drinking water for South Florida.

Located just below the land surface it is composed of a porous rock with small cracks and holes through which rainwater seeps and fills. The water is collected into on-site and remote wells where it begins its water treatment process. The water is softened, settled in contact basins, passes through a primary and secondary disinfection, filtered for sand and anthracite, phosphorous is added to reduce corrosion, finally water is stored in reservoirs and remote tanks where the water is ready to use. 
  
Sea level rise is possessing as a large threat to South Florida’s drinking water. With the sea level projected to rise between 3 and 7 inches by 2030, and 9 to 24 inches by 2060. This increase causes saltwater intrusion to the Biscayne Bay Aquifer, which is described as “movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers”. This process leads to contamination of drinking water which leads to a reducing on our already stressed water supply. 

Sources:
https://www.miamidade.gov/water/library/reports/water-quality-2017.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscayne_National_Par