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| Melbourne, Florida water tower in Satellite Beach, FL |
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| Melbourne water working on a water issue |
Florida’s population has been booming for more than a decade, but with that growth comes a hidden consequence: water insecurity. Beneath the state lies a vast system of aquifers, layers of porous rock that hold about 90% of Florida’s drinking water. Normally, this resource is abundant and safe, sustained by rainfall and natural filtration. Yet Florida’s unique geography, thin soil layers, a high water table, and limestone that acts more like a sponge than a barrier make these underground reservoirs unusually vulnerable to pollution.
Contamination can arrive silently. When groundwater is polluted, it can infiltrate municipal water systems and endanger public health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that children and young adults are particularly at risk. Factories, sewage leaks, and even microorganisms can seep into aquifers, turning tap water into a potential hazard. Local governments issue “boil water notices” during contamination events, urging residents to boil water for at least one minute. While boiling kills parasites, bacteria, and viruses, it does nothing to remove chemical pollutants, and in some cases, it can actually concentrate them.
Infrastructure adds another layer of complexity. Old or damaged pipes can become entry points for contaminants during routine repairs. In Brevard County, the problem is magnified by its proximity to military and space industry facilities. Studies have uncovered toxic substances in lagoon wildlife, including trichloroethylene (TCE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and DDT. More troubling are the recently detected “forever chemicals,” known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals, widely used in firefighting foam and industrial applications, are nearly indestructible in the environment and accumulate in human blood and organs.
Biologists detected PFAS in wildlife near Kennedy Space Center in 2018. A Department of Defense report the same year revealed alarming contamination at Patrick Air Force Base, where PFAS levels were measured at 57,000 times higher than the EPA’s health advisory limit. These findings suggest that groundwater across Brevard County is compromised, raising serious questions about the safety of household tap water.
Communities have not stayed silent. The nonprofit Fight for Zero has been pushing since 2018 for large-scale testing, cleanup, medical screenings, wildlife monitoring, and advanced water filtration. One proposal now under consideration is a government-funded program to install point-of-entry filtration systems in homes across Satellite Beach, Patrick Air Force Base, and Cocoa Beach.
The issue stretches far beyond Brevard County. Florida’s rapid population growth, combined with aging infrastructure and weak pollution oversight, is straining water systems statewide. Every time residents turn on the faucet, they assume safety, but without investment in monitoring, cleanup, and regulation, that assumption grows riskier. Florida’s future depends on more than just accommodating growth; it requires confronting the invisible threats in its drinking water and prioritizing public health over short-term convenience.- Florida’s Population GrowthHow Florida’s Population Stacks Up in the 2020 Census – A closer look at the state’s rapid population increase and what it means for infrastructure and resources.
- EPA on Groundwater and Drinking WaterEPA: Ground Water and Drinking Water – Guidance from the Environmental Protection Agency on groundwater safety, regulations, and threats to public health.
- Scientific Study on ContaminationPerfluoroalkyl Acids in the American Alligator at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge – Peer-reviewed research documenting PFAS chemicals in Florida wildlife.
- Department of Defense ReportDoD Report on PFAS Contamination – A federal report identifying military bases with some of the highest PFAS contamination levels in the country, including Patrick Air Force Base.