As the North Central Florida region bakes under unrelenting sunshine, residents and local leaders are anxiously awaiting the heavy rains that often come in the afternoon this time of year. But environmental scientists and geologists are warning that the combination of a severe drought, excessive groundwater pumping and any sudden deluge of rain is the perfect recipe for a dangerous geological hazard: sinkhole collapses.
The St. Johns River Water Management District recently declared a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage in this region in response to exceptional drought conditions and severely declining groundwater levels. While mandatory irrigation restrictions are put in place to conserve drinking water, experts say reducing our daily draw on the Floridan aquifer is also a matter of public safety.
The mechanics of a collapse…