Editor, The Beacon:

I am not a hydrologist, but have always heard that there is a lens of clean water at the bottom of the aquifer from which we draw our water. Sitting on that lens is salt water. More than 20 years ago, the data from the St. Johns River Water Management District indicated that we were drawing down from that lens faster than nature was replenishing it. We were being told that city wells had to be driven ever deeper to keep up with water demands.

At the rate that we were using water, we could expect saltwater intrusion. If we get salt water out of our taps, that would collapse the economy of Florida.

Since then the population of Florida has exploded. Development has progressed unabated. Now our politicians want to open development to rural land, which further diminishes our water recharge areas. Desalination is expensive and can’t be done overnight.

Were we lied to 20 years ago about the water situation? Have we found other sources of fresh water? I’m just curious.

Patricia A. James

Pierson