Clean Water

By 2040, Florida’s public water needs are expected to increase by 22%, and analysts conclude that there is not enough groundwater to meet these needs, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Florida’s freshwater resources come from underground aquifers, which are large bodies of porous rock and sand that hold water.

SWFL’s population continues to boom with Charlotte County seeing a nearly 19% increase in new residents since 2020. One of the struggles the region is facing is access to clean water.

Florida is facing a new dilemma as the state’s supply of drinking water is beginning to dry up. The solution is to use reclaimed wastewater in situations where drinking water can be preserved.

Bonita Springs Utilities Inc. has earned top honors as the 2025 Best Tasting Drinking Water winner in a blind taste test conducted by the Southeast Desalting Association. The annual competition draws entries from water utilities across the 10-state region of the southeastern U.S. Samples were evaluated by a panel of judges on color, odor, clarity and overall taste.

While the debate on fluoride has a focus on dental care, what about the other health issues regarding fluoridated water?

New disaster-resilient water treatment plant to serve Key West and the Lower Keys.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has earmarked $25 million for water-quality improvements to the Caloosahatchee River watershed

Lee County Utilities has rescinded a precautionary Boil Water Notice for 99% of the Lee County Utilities service area; less than 1% remains on a boil water notice.

Cape Coral’s municipal drinking water supply is tainted with the intestinal bacteria E. coli, officials said Monday, and ordered the city’s 190,000 residents not to drink their tap water.“Fecal coliforms and E. coli are bacteria whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes,” officials said in a citywide boil notice warning. “Microbes in these wastes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, and people with severely compromised immune systems.”E. coli was found in the water supply in two places during routine testing and announced Monday, but no details were released concerning where in the city the bacteria showed up, how prevalent the E. coli outbreak was, nor how the pathogens got into the drinking water supply.Cape Coral officials said Monday that bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling the tap water for a full minute kills the bacteria and other organisms in the water and allows the water to be used after it cools.The Florida Department of Health says signs and symptoms of an E. coli infection, after an average incubation of 3 to 4 days, include diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Over a hundred people toted lawn chairs and water bottles to the Burroughs Home and Gardens for a river-side chat about water quality.Fort Myers Beach…