Bloomberg Businessweek has an excellent long-form article this week on the multiple stresses that are facing the water supply managers for Miami and the South Florida region. Some of these come from changes in climate, as rising sea level pushes salty sea water into the aquifers and heavier rains cause more frequent floods that push pollutants into the system. Others are caused by human changes like rapid development using septic systems, which add bacteria and toxins to the aquifers, and the remains of manufacturing plants which are now Superfund sites which add toxins to the aquifers, especially through the remains of mines in the region which are now large human-made lakes. You can read more about the complex interplay of factors which are challenging water managers to provide clean water to Miami residents at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-08-29/miami-s-other-water-problem.

Miami Beach skyline. Source: Ethically Yours, Commons Wikimedia