Laurence
Thanks for your reply.
"Here in Florida we also have a large agriculture base that requires more water than is supplied via rainfall. We also get most of the water from aquafiers that come from Georgia and Alabama. Very little of our rainfall ever makes it to the aquafier because of the dense confining layers."
I understand what you are saying but I don't think I agree.
In a very well written book "Mirage", Cynthia Barnett, (a Gainesville native) published a pie chart taken from the U.S.G.S. Agriculture takes 48% of that 8 bil gallons, 30% public supply, Power generation 8%, industrial 7%, golf courses 5%, and private wells 2%. Also in the same book I quote
"In Florida, where the primary source of freshwater is groundwater recharged by rainfall, most of the rain falls in the north of the state while most people live in the south. The hydrologic line, running just above Orlando, is where 44% of our rain falls and is where 78% of the people live. Neither surface water, nor ground water crosses this line manking south Florida wholly dependant on rainfall."
Florida Waters, writtten by F.S.U. professor Purdum. This state gets 150 billion gallons of rain each day and another 26 billion gallons a day from rivers flowing from Georgia and Alabama. We lose 107 billion gallons a day from evaporation, 66 billion gallons a day flow to the sea. Losses now outweigh gains by 5.2 billion gallons a day. Ibid.
In the Gainesville area, and to the West, I understand the geography to be considered Karst sensitive. Many sinkholes, many direct connections tothe aquifer directly from the surface. In many of these areas there is no confining bed of limerock. The city of Gainesville gets a vast majority of it's water from an area known as Payne's Prarie. This is fed directly from streams and creeks flowing thru the metropolitan area. Pollutants are a rising problem.
"I agree that conservation is important to reduce the demands on the water use, but even with conservation we need alternate resourse such as reuse and RO to meet the demand. Florida sees 1000 new residents per week, and uses 6.7 billion gallons per day. "
Not to be overly picky here, but the state actually lost population last year. That trend will be reversed quite soon I am sure. Also, my understanding is that we pump about 8.1 billion gallons a day. But who really knows? It's a huge, unsustainable amount. Unfortunately much of that water goes to irrigate thirsty lawns. Those same lawns which are dumping pesticides, herbicides, and nitrates into our water supply. Golf courses are the worst offenders. Lake Alice, on the University of Florida campus is extremely toxic. It's full of algae blooms and fish kills. The experts have traced the main contributors of the excess nutrients to our sacred Florida Field and the many well manicured green surfaces which our outstanding sports teams practice upon.
"One way to help do this is for Utilities to treat water to only the levels required for potable use and no treat for
aesthetics such as hardness and high purity. POE and POU equipment subsequently provide this service. Do we need to start developing better ways to reduce the waste from these too? Absolutely, but to ban them seems extreme."
I have never supported a ban on softening equipment. I do support metered control valves, vortech tanks, and conservation at every turn. I do support brown water projects. I do agree that the utilities should provide us with potable water and that we, as individuals, should then take all necessary actions to make that water as clean as we choose.
Respectfully
Rex Johnson
Every month in 
