Water Supply
Northeast Florida’s Water
A Complex Underground System
Our water, vital to sustaining life in Northeast Florida, comes from the vast underground reservoir known as the Floridan aquifer.
Serving as our primary and most cost-effective source of fresh water, it’s the lifeline of our community – but it’s being depleted faster than nature can replenish it.
Here in Northeast Florida, our water supply comes from the Floridan aquifer, which is a finite resource.
Where Our Water Comes From
Examining the Brilliance of Nature
Explore the depths of the Floridan Aquifer
The Surface
Our water comes from the deep underground aquifer. The aquifer is naturally replenished through rainfall.
JEA facilities and infrastructure deliver more than 120 million gallons of water each day to our customers.
Our community depends on JEA to provide safe, clean drinking water and to protect our water resources and the environment.
Surficial Aquifer
These shallow beds of sand with some sea shells, clay and limestone are up to 100 feet (30 meters) deep.
This shallow aquifer is replenished by local rainfall
Being shallow, these areas can be susceptible to contamination from sources such as spills, discharge, and salt water.
Confining Layer
This layer is largely made up of clay which serves as a natural barrier
This confining layer protects the aquifer below from contamination.
Production and Replenishment Zone
The source of JEA’s drinking water supply is approximately 1,000 feet (305 meters) below land surface.
An aquifer is like a vast underground sponge, holding water within small pockets of rock and sediment.
As you travel deeper into different zones of the aquifer, the water increases in salinity.
The H2.0® Purification Program replenishes the aquifer depleted by long-term water consumption and helps with keeping our source of water supply fresh (non-saline).
All water on earth is reused – from rivers to streams to aquifers – and it will be used again.
Our Community Needs
As a community, it is important that we act now. The H2.0® Purification Program increases the availability of the aquifer supply, improves the quality of that supply, and protects our freshwater for generations to come.
Preserving Our Vital Resource
The Floridan aquifer, our lifeline for fresh water, is nearing its sustainable withdrawal limit. Water conservation plays an important role in reducing the amount of water we use, but alone, it is not enough.
Meeting Growing Demands
Our community is expanding, placing increased pressure on our finite water resources. Without proactive measures, meeting the water demands of our growing population will become increasingly challenging.
Adapting to Regulatory Changes
In 2021, Florida Senate Bill 64 was passed, requiring utilities to eliminate non-beneficial surface water discharges. JEA’s H2.0® Purification Program not only provides a much-needed increase in water supply, but also allows JEA to comply with these regulations.
Join us in safeguarding our water supply for generations to come.
Together, we will make a difference.
Additional Resources
Ready to deep dive into the fascinating world of our water supply and how it works? Check out the following organizations for more information!
St. Johns River Water Management District
