Florida & Water

Florida’s Weather Is Unpredictable

Sometimes we have wet years followed by years of too little rain.

To see how Florida’s drought conditions compare with the rest of the nation, visit U.S. Drought Portal.

St. Johns River

Did You Know?

  • Lawn and Landscape irrigation can account for more than 50% of total water use at residential and commercial locations
  • Sixty-five % of water sprinkled on lawns during the hottest part of the day is lost to evaporation
  • Only 1% of the earth’s water supply is in a form that is usable by animals, plans and humans
  • Only 3% of the water found on the earth is freshwater, 97% is salt water, found in the oceans and salty lakes
  • The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida - 310 mines. It is one of the few rivers in the United States that flows north
  • Because the St. Johns River flows slowly, it is difficult for the river current to flush pollutants
  • Major pollution sources of the St. Johns River include discharges from wastewater treatment plans and stormwater runoff from urban and agricultural areas. This runoff carries pesticides, fertilizers and other pollutants into canals ditches and streams that lead to the river. River pollution is concentrated around urban areas
  • The St. Johns River usually flows north, but because it is tidally influenced and relatively flat, it reverses its flow twice a day