A recent story out of New Jersey highlighted a growing concern faced by coastal communities across the United States: saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources.
Currently, rising sea levels and drought are pushing saltwater up the Delaware River , threatening drinking water supplies for millions, including Philadelphia. In response, officials are releasing reservoir water to help push the saline intrusion downstream. Meanwhile, Florida’s struggle is occurring underground , where saltwater is infiltrating vital freshwater aquifers.
In Florida, over-extraction from the Floridan Aquifer, combined with rising sea levels, has allowed saltwater to encroach on the state’s freshwater reserves. This issue is particularly pressing in cities like Jacksonville, where 90% of drinking water comes from underground aquifers . With Florida’s population growing by more than 1.1 million people from 2020 to 2023, the demand for water continues to rise.
In South Florida, municipalities have had to relocate wellfields inland as a temporary and costly solution to saltwater intrusion. As climate change accelerates, the question remains: How much longer can our aquifers withstand this strain before damage becomes irreversible?