How much rain would it take to really make a noticeable difference?

[Red Hat Jef]

Was watching it rain/drizzle here in Florida over the last few days, and it made me wonder what kind of a rain we'd really need to have a noticeable impact on the water level in the caves. I've heard a few folks say that we're at the point where we really need a good couple of day long storms, and still a few others that say we need a good steady drizzle so it doesn't all just run off. If we had a good week of rain storms in the north Florida area, would that be enough to raise the water level at a place like Cow or Peacock Springs by a couple of inches? Or does it take more than that?

If I lived in cave country, I'd probably slip up to a place like peacock springs for a couple of days after a good long rain to see what effect it was having on the spring itself. But maybe some folks with better knowledge of the effect of rain on the aquifer can help me out by volunteering some information on this topic?

[RETIRED 11]

If you see a guy building a large boat, and rounding up local wildlife in pairs..... we're on the road to recovery..

[Kelly Jessop]

5 years + of above average rain fall

[Leslie Sapp]

5 years + of above average rain fall

+1- With a few large tropical depressions and/or hurricanes stalling out on North Florida.

In reality, water consumption in this area is unsustainable, and has been for most of my life. The aquifer drops a little on average every year, and never quite regains it's former levels.

[Kelly Jessop]

In reality, water consumption in this area is unsustainable, and has been for most of my life. The aquifer drops a little on average every year, and never quite regains it's former levels.

You are right. Noticed them installing a new center pivot near Mayo in some land just cleared for farming. Agriculture accounts for a huge amount of water usage,but development in north Florida has grown,and that is more straws in the ground. Plus,you have thristy metropolitan areas screaming for water,and tapping into ground water. All this vertical training that is being offered may come in handy because you might need it one day to get to the water at Orange Grove.

[JamesK]

You are right. Noticed them installing a new center pivot near Mayo in some land just cleared for farming. Agriculture accounts for a huge amount of water usage,but development in north Florida has grown,and that is more straws in the ground. Plus,you have thristy metropolitan areas screaming for water,and tapping into ground water. All this vertical training that is being offered may come in handy because you might need it one day to get to the water at Orange Grove.

Such a true statement. It is going to be a sad day when we are all labeled as sump divers.

[FW]

.... It is going to be a sad day when we are all labeled as sump divers.

And just why is being a sump diver "sad"?

[chilldive]

One thing I can't quite get my head around is "where is all the water"? It's mostly all still in Florida, just in a different place, right? A person pulls it out of the aquifer, waters his lawn, then it goes back to the aquifer. Water is circulating through pipes, people, water bottles, etc, but it all goes back at some point. Maybe there are just so MANY pipes and people now carrying the water that that is the new aquifer (joke). Water doesn't disappear, it just moves to another place, right?

Someone please educate me. Other than a small percentage that gets bottled and sent out of the state, where is all the water?

Sorry in advance for sounding like a dumba$$.

[jxh2297]

One thing I can't quite get my head around is "where is all the water"? It's mostly all still in Florida, just in a different place, right? A person pulls it out of the aquifer, waters his lawn, then it goes back to the aquifer. Water is circulating through pipes, people, water bottles, etc, but it all goes back at some point. Maybe there are just so MANY pipes and people now carrying the water that that is the new aquifer (joke). Water doesn't disappear, it just moves to another place, right?

Someone please educate me. Other than a small percentage that gets bottled and sent out of the state, where is all the water?

Sorry in advance for sounding like a dumba$$.

You're forgetting evaporation. Evaporates and gets in the jet stream and may rain down in another state.

[RN]

One thing I can't quite get my head around is "where is all the water"? It's mostly all still in Florida, just in a different place, right? A person pulls it out of the aquifer, waters his lawn, then it goes back to the aquifer. Water is circulating through pipes, people, water bottles, etc, but it all goes back at some point. Maybe there are just so MANY pipes and people now carrying the water that that is the new aquifer (joke). Water doesn't disappear, it just moves to another place, right?

Someone please educate me. Other than a small percentage that gets bottled and sent out of the state, where is all the water?

Sorry in advance for sounding like a dumba$$.

Florida and Georgia have been in legal disputes for years over water rights. There are dams in Georgia that affect the Florida aquifer. There are 2 major bottling companies in those 2 states - Zephyrhills and Dasani. Those brands get shipped all over the country. The amount of water sent out of state is probably much greater than we all think.

Another thing to think about it where the water goes. We tap into the aquifer and move it to populated areas so everyone can have lush green lawns. Yes, that water goes back into the ground, but the water that we see in the springs of cave country is water than seeped into the ground about 14 years ago. The water that we see coming out of the Mill Pond is water that seeped into the ground 17 years ago.