Water supply in jeopardy

By Carrie A. Mizell

In 20 years, Gilchrist County residents may turn a knob on the kitchen sink and no water come out, according to a water supply assessment accepted by the Suwannee River Water Management District on December 14.
“The assessment indicates that the northeastern portion of the District may not have sufficient groundwater supplies to meet water demands and protect natural systems, such as stream and spring flows, over the next 20 years,” said Carlos Herd, water supply project manager for the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Nearly all water used in the District is supplied by groundwater from the Upper Floridian aquifer. The Water Supply Assessment identifies areas where the use of groundwater to satisfy demands over the next 20 years will cause negative impacts to natural systems. It also examines the availability of alternative water supplies and conservation measures to meet water needs.

The assessment showed a decline in groundwater levels in parts of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Suwannee, and Union counties.
The low-range water demand projections, based on average population growth and water use trends, indicate that by 2030 water demands will increase District-wide by 10.3 million gallons per day for all water use categories. The high-range projection, which accounts for a peak growth scenario, indicates an increase of 62.8 million gallons per day.
While Gilchrist County’s population in 2010 was 17,800 people, the Bureau of Economic and Business Research indicated that the county’s population would grow to 19,700 by 2015, and jump significantly to 24,900 by 2030. Population growth within the Suwannee River Water Management District is not the only water culprit; the nine counties that make up the St. Johns River Water Management District in northeast Florida reportedly withdraw nearly twice as much groundwater from the aquifer than the Suwannee River Water Management District.
The Alapaha River, Upper and Lower Santa Fe River and Upper Suwannee River basins were identified as water supply planning regions. Water supply plans will identify strategies to offset projected water resource impacts.
According to Herd, the District is required by law to develop regional water supply plans for areas where groundwater sources are unable to meet demands over 20 years.
The assessment is available on the Suwannee River Water Management District’s website: www.srwmd.org