Like many states across the country, Florida faces serious water challenges. From droughts to regular flooding of coastal communities, algae blooms to mobile irrigation labs, the University of Florida (UF) has been at the forefront of research and programs that seek to protect and improve the state’s water supply including:
- Free Post-Hurricane Water Tests. After Hurricane Irma, many communities were flooded and dealing with contaminated well water. UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension team offered free bacteria testing for wells and solutions for how to revive them.
- Saving Millions of Gallons of Water. The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer service provides water for 2.5 million people each day and struggles, like many urban centers, with issues of water scarcity due to weather variables, an increasing population, and other environmental changes. UF/IFAS worked closely with Miami-Dade residents to develop more efficient irrigation tools to reduce outdoor water usage. So far, the program has saved over 14 million gallons of water.
- Saving the Everglades. All plants need phosphates to grow, but when excess phosphates enter the water system, they block sunlight and oxygen, threatening the entire ecosystem. This problem deeply impacted the health and future of the Florida Everglades. Thanks to training by UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, support from state and federal agencies, and cooperation and implementation of best management practices by Florida’s growers the Everglades has seen a phosphorus reduction of 79 percent in recent years.
These are just a few examples of the ways that the University of Florida is working to address the state’s water challenges. For additional ways you can help ensure these programs, and others like them, continue to produce real results for your community please click here.
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