Introduction
Recreation and Importance to Society
Types and Locations
Springs and Their Part in the Water System
Threats to the Springs
Conservation efforts and Conclusions
Works Cited and Links for Further Information
The
springs are an invaluable resource and natural wonder of the state. Combined,
the system of 320 known springs produces nearly 8 billion gallons of water
per day, more than the state currently uses (although at present population
growth, this remains to be seen). The springs of North Florida have
always been a wonder. From the days of the Spanish Conquistadors
searching for the "fountain of youth" to the millions of tourists
that come to visit the springs today they have intrigued and amazed.
With crystal clear waters feeding rivers that can disappear as quickly
as they appeared the springs truly are an amazing sight. It was always
thought that these springs were an unlimited resource, but scientists have
discovered that man's influence can harm these spring. The Biscayne
Aquifer in South Florida are already showing signs of a reduced flow due
to the overpopulation of the area. The whole system is very fragile
and we must all be careful with how we treat this great natural resource.
The
recreation is not as important to preserve as the quality and amount of
drinking
water that the springs produce. The joy that the springs give so
many people and the revenue they could generate are valid reasons to be
concerned about their condition and their future. The labyrinth of
caves has been a favorite of cave divers for more than 40 years.
The diving can be quite dangerous though. Without proper precaution
and safety measures divers can very well get lost or trapped in the caves.
In the last 40 years or so, about 300 divers have died in the caves.
Communities have always been based around the springs. Everyone from
the Native Americans to the settlers would have used the springs for food
and water. These springs made life in Florida possible and their
importance and heritage needs to be remembered and appreciated. Small
communities like Ichetucknee are completely dependent on their spring for
their way of life. The spring and surrounding community are a cultural
landmark. When the springs become endangered, the communities and
the small town way of life for North and Central Florida become endangered.
Ichetucknee Springs are endangered, just as many across the state are.
Chemicals and waste from Lake City, a town 15 miles away are showing up
in trace amounts in the spring. The way the system interconnects,
you can't just worry about your area, you have to worry about the entire
system. The springs attract all kinds of attention. There are
at least four springs that claim some name heritage from Ponce de Leon's
search for the "Fountain of Youth". The major springs, like Silver
Springs, near Ocala, have built up a package that almost resembles a theme
park. There are many things to see and experience at the springs.
The fame and wonder of the springs have even attracted hollywood where
in the early half of the century, many movies were shot at the springs.
County or state parks housing springs are very valuable indeed, not only
for the pure water they produce but for the positive effects that they
can have on society.
The springs in Florida are mostly located in the Northern half of the state.
A spring is a the natural discharge from an aquifer through a naturally
occurring opening in the ground. Springs can be divided into two
major categories by the type of sediment that they come out of. The
first type is called a non artesian or "water table" spring.
This is formed when rain seeps through the sandy top layer of the ground
until it reaches the impermeable aquiclude. The water will then build
up until it runs down the gradient of the land on top of the aquiclude
until it reaches a bluff or an outcropping, where it will flow out.
These type of spring do not usually produce much volume in discharge.
The other type of spring is an artesian spring. An artesian spring
is formed when water is confined in the aquifer under the impermeable aquiclude
until sufficient pressure causes the water to flow out of a natural opening.
Most of the springs in Florida, especially the high flow ones are Artesian
Springs. Springs can be as small as a trickle from a pin size hole
in the ground up to a massive cavernous opening that feeds a river. Springs
are measured and classified by the magnitude of their flow. The springs
are rated as first through eighth magnitude by the amount of water they
produce. This system of classifying the springs was invented by O.
E. Meinzer, a member of the U. S. Geological Survey, in 1927.
O. E. Meinzer classification system: based on an average of the springs daily discharge
Magnitude
1- 100 cu. ft./sec. or more
2- 10 to 100 cu. ft./sec.
3- 1 to 10 cu. ft./sec.
4- 100 gal/min to 1 cu. ft./sec.
(448 gal/min)
5- 10 to 100 gal/min
6- 1 to 10 gal/min
7- 1 pint to 1 gal/min
8- Less than 1 pint/min
Interestingly enough, springs are not only located on land. There are currently 15 known "submarine" springs in the ocean. The springs are generally located near the shore in a bay or inlet. The location of a "submarine" spring can be detected by a "boil" on the surface of the water. Springs in Florida also vary widely in temperature. Most tend to be pretty average. The general temperature of North Florida Springs is about 70oF. The Central Florida Springs tend toward 75oF. Springs can vary from about 60o to almost 100oF. The warmer temperature of some springs is characteristic of the water being drawn from deeper in the aquifer. The United States has 97 first magnitude springs, 27 of which are in Florida. Florida has more than any other state. Oregon and Louisiana come next with 15 and 14 respectively. The 27 first magnitude springs in Florida alone account for 6 billion gallons of water per day. Only 8 other states have first magnitude springs and they all come from Limestone, Basalt, or Sandstone Aquifers. Florida also has the single largest spring. A submarine spring at Spring Creek in Wakulla County. yields more than 2000 cu. ft./sec.
All of these elements are related and interconnected, so changes that are brought to one component of the system would bring about changes throughout the system, sometimes drastic changes. The most sensitive parts of the Florida Aquifer system are the various recharge zones. The recharge zone is the are where the rock of the aquifer is directly exposed to the surface. Water that seeps into this area sinks directly into the aquifer. Runoff into the ocean and evaporated water vapor are reintroduced into the system through the seepage into the recharge zone. Sinkholes produce an accelerated version of the process that occurs in a zone of recharge. A sink hole does not have to be in a zone of recharge, it can be anywhere, just as a spring can. The difference is that the pressure gradient is the opposite for the formation of a sinkhole. Just as an abundance of pressure will push water out of a natural opening, a lack there of will pull the water down a natural opening. The springs in North Central Florida are absolutely essential to the survival of the state. The nearly 8 billion gallons that they produce daily provides drinking water to the Fastest growing state in the country. The springs in Florida produce more than and other state in the country and more than many other countries do. Springs are responsible for the flow of rivers and the level of lakes throughout the state. The springs are not, however responsible for themselves. The amount of their flow and their composition among other things are controlled by outside factors. Everything in the system is interconnected. There are many factors that effect the flow of the springs. These factors include: amount and frequency of rainfall, water table gradient, hydrostatic pressure within the aquifer, and for springs near the coast, atmospheric pressure and ocean tides. The Florida Aquifer is large enough and Florida receives enough average rainfall over the whole year to keep flow of the springs pretty constant. Man is playing an increasing role in the system as well. The relationship is not confined to the state or even the groundwater. Springs near the coast are affected by tides, connecting them to the water system at large. Interacting with the sinkholes, rivers, and groundwater, the springs produce the life blood of the state.
Scientists
have recently found contamination in some of the springs. Areas that
have more chickens and dairy cows than people have begun to show traces
of nitrates in their springs. A very large danger is the human contact
with the recharge zone. The layer of grass and sand that covers much
of the limestone making up the aquifer doesn't filter out very many contaminants.
The whole system, as immense and amazing as it is, is very fragile and
susceptible to the changes we are imposing on its environment. Although
there are many different threats to the springs from many different directions,
they are all caused by man. They are therefor our responsibility
to take care of. The picture to the right is a sign of
the problems that the springs are having as a result of man's interference.
The sight of the bottlers pipes in the water where there used to be children
swimming is a good sign that all is not well with the springs.
In
fact, it is nothing more than well water. The accepted definition
of spring water is ; water that freely flows without the aid of mechanical
means through an orifice in the Earth's surface. This practice of
drilling boreholes is a major concern of the Natural Spring Water Association
(NSWA). The laws that govern this kind of procedure are vague and
not always sufficient to protect the spring. Bottling the water that
naturally flows from the spring ensures that the spring will be able to
replenish itself and flow forever. When the borehole pulls the extra water
out it is removing the water faster than the spring can replenish it.
This can reverse the flow of the spring and bring contaminates into the
water that would have been naturally filtered out. The NSWA lobbied
the FDA to change the rules governing the use of boreholes, but the FDA
said that since half of bottlers use boreholes and consumers do not know
how the water is collected, present methods and labeling are ok.
The over pumping of the boreholes could even completely stop the flow of
the spring. With such a large volume of water being pumped out, the
pressure fueling the pump would lower, causing the flow of the spring to
stop.
park one day to a site like this locked gate. A particularly heated
battle broke out between the residents of Crystal Springs, a town located
about 15 miles north of Tampa, and The Nestle Corporation (operating under
names like; Great Spring
Waters of America, Ozarka, Deer Park, Zephyrhills,
and Perrier Group of America. Perrier bought the springs and is threatening
their existence with the intention of setting up a borehole and a high
volume pumping facility to bottle the water. Their business would
ruin a spring rich in tradition and cause a sizable amount of collateral
damage. The whole Hillsburough river would be threatened if Perrier
set up the facility and restricted the flow from the spring to the river.
This is not just a problem in Crystal Springs. The Perrier Group
owns and operates over 100 springs in America alone. The privilege
to swim in and experience the springs is as important as the water that
they provide. This kind of action has sparked up local outrage and
spawned the forming of groups like Save Our Springs, Inc.
in
general, they cannot do it all. The government falls short in many
areas, particularly with the natural springs. The laws are not doing
the job and the organizations that are supposed to enforce them are
woefully under funded. The average person is not being informed of
the danger to a resource that he greatly takes for granted. The people
have to help conserve and protect the water. There are grass roots
organizations trying to help their areas and organizations like NSWA, but
we need some cohesive concerted group effort if anything is going to get
done. Individuals need to do their part to help preserve and protect
the natural springs and the whole water system. The NSWA continues
its lobbying of the FDA in its fight with the bottlers that use boreholes.
Other groups are also helping and if they work together they may yet save
one of our states most important resources. Although groups like
the NSWA and Save Our Springs, Inc. have won small battles and stalled
the advances of some companies, they are facing a booming 3 billion dollar
industry with its own powerful lobbyists. The battle is far from
over to protect our springs and everyone should be made aware of their
obligation to help protect this invaluable resource.
National
GeographicSave
Our Springs National Spring
Water AssociationSprings
of FloridaFICUS:
Florida's WaterE/
The Environmental MagazineFlorida
Conservation FoundationDepartment
of Environmental Protection: Florida Geological Survey
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at brendan4@ufl.edu
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