Solving the state’s water challenges with a multi-pronged approach
Florida is booming. It gained nearly half a million residents between 2023 and 2024, a growth in population larger than that of every state except Texas, for a total of more than 23.3 million. In terms of percentages, Florida’s growth rate of 2 percent trailed only the District of Columbia’s, and four of the five fastest-growing cities in the nation are in the Sunshine State.
But, the numbers are concerning for a state that was already struggling to provide enough fresh water to its residents. What are some of Florida’s water challenges, and how can it address them to support its growth?
Overuse of Aquifers. Fresh water in Florida mainly comes from aquifers. About 90 percent of residents rely on groundwater as the primary source of drinking water, and crop irrigation and power generation would be crippled without it. Households, cities, and businesses cause the greatest depletion of Florida’s groundwater, while agriculture accounts for at least 25 percent of withdrawals. Responsible stewardship is a must if the state is to have a sustainable future.
Saline Intrusion. The intrusion of salt water into aquifers due to rising sea levels and overuse of groundwater threatens Florida’s supply of fresh water. Pumping from aquifers comes with a heightened danger of saline intrusion, and much of Florida’s groundwater comes from wells near the coast.
Rising Sea Levels and Flooding Threats. The state’s vulnerable water infrastructure, from centralized systems to aging home septic systems, lies in the path of violent storms and floods that can cause failures.
Florida’s water systems often rely on large-scale plants and extensive collection and distribution networks, and when a weather event knocks a regional or municipal plant offline, the impacts can be widespread. Plants near coastlines that are already feeling the impact of sea level rise can also be inundated by storm surges and floods from heavy rainfall. When resulting sewage spills mix with the floodwaters, it can pose a health risk.
Nutrient Pollution and Harmful Algal Blooms. Florida’s at-risk wastewater infrastructure includes more than just large-scale assets. Countless failing home septic systems dot the state, and their effluent, along with agricultural runoff, overloads waterways and estuaries with nutrients that can cause eutrophication and toxic algal blooms, harming ecosystems and residents. Sewage spills from failing septic systems also pose a heightened health risk during floods.
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Solution: Desalination
Florida’s 1,500-mile coastline gives many cities easy access to seawater, which can be converted to drinking water with up-to-date seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination.
Because of technical advances in recent years, reverse osmosis desalination has come into its own as a cost-effective process. Rising water costs have driven many regions to revisit the technology as a way to provide water to growing populations.
Saline intrusion into aquifers has undeniably been a problem for Florida. But while desalinating this brackish groundwater may be more expensive than withdrawing fresh water, brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) costs considerably less than seawater desalination, providing a welcome middle ground.
Considering Florida’s growth and its limited availability of fresh water, desalination offers a chance at drinking water security and long-term sustainability.
Solution: Decentralized Water and Wastewater Treatment
Another measure to produce infrastructure resilience is decentralization. By treating water or wastewater with a system of smaller plants serving more localized areas, impacts of weather events can often be limited — if one plant goes offline, the entire region isn’t affected.
Many newer communities and homeowner’s associations have opted to adopt their own decentralized treatment systems, breaking free of public utilities and gaining more control and resilience.
Existing communities with large groups of residents facing unaffordable septic repairs may find a septic-to-sewer program in tandem with a smaller, decentralized plant an attractive solution to the problem.
While desalination and decentralized systems offer valuable solutions, Seven Seas’ Water-as-a-Service® provides a comprehensive and streamlined approach for home developers.
Solution: Water-as-a-Service® for Home Developers
In many fast-growing suburban areas, such as those outside Jacksonville, Florida, local public utilities often cannot keep up with the rapid development. Home developers planning and building new communities face the challenge of securing reliable water and wastewater treatment solutions before breaking ground. Engaging in discussions with providers like Seven Seas Water Group before initiating development projects allows for the design and implementation of decentralized, dedicated water and wastewater treatment plants tailored to the specific needs of these new communities.
Seven Seas’ Water-as-a-Service® (WaaS®) model offers a comprehensive solution by taking on all phases of water projects, from design and construction, to long-term operations and maintenance. This approach enables home developers to access modern water technologies without the burden of upfront capital investment, ensuring that necessary utility services are in place to support new developments. By partnering with Seven Seas, developers can focus on building thriving communities while entrusting water infrastructure needs to experienced professionals.
Current WaaS® projects include scalable, decentralized solutions that are now in service, addressing numerous coastal water supply issues.
- In Alice, Texas, WaaS® is providing a brackish water reverse osmosis plant, at no upfront cost, that will desalinate brackish water, providing raw water at a cost lower than the city previously paid for imported water.
- In the Caribbean, a Seven Seas seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant earned the Silver Earthquake rating and the first-ever Gold Wind rating from the U.S. Resiliency Council.
- In Texas, WaaS® enables phased installation of decentralized systems that allow residential developments to add treatment capacity only when they need it, keeping capital liquid.
Planning for the Future of Florida’s Water Resilience
As Florida’s suburbs continue to expand, the need for innovative, sustainable water solutions has never been more urgent. Decentralized wastewater treatment, leased or provided through partnerships like WaaS®, offers a practical, cost-effective strategy to address water scarcity, reduce reliance on overdrawn groundwater, and ensure long-term resilience. By embracing these modern approaches, municipalities and developers can secure reliable water supplies while minimizing financial burdens and environmental risks. As the state grapples with the challenges of urban growth and climate change, forward-thinking water management will be key to building thriving, sustainable, water-secure communities.
With decades of experience in coastal water solutions, from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, we’re prepared to address Florida’s specific needs. Contact Seven Seas to begin addressing your water challenges with Tampa-based Seven Seas, and find out how modern financing and delivery make all the difference.
Image Credit: jovannig/123RF
Erik Arfalk is the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Seven Seas, specializing in innovative and sustainable water and wastewater solutions in the US and the Caribbean. Previously, he was the Chief Commercial Officer at Fluence Corporation, where he launched MABR. Erik has held leadership roles at Atlas Copco and GE in Europe and the US, starting his career in strategy consulting. He holds a Master's in Business Administration and Economics from Lund University, Sweden. Erik's passion for water solutions and his talent for building strategic partnerships have established him as a respected industry leader.