It's easy to take freshwater for granted in this country. For the majority of us, having access to all the water we need for drinking, washing, and watering is only the turn of a handle away. It's generally so inexpensive that we don't worry if our sprinkler system waters more of our driveway than our lawn, or if we leave the tap running while we brush our teeth. Most of us don't think twice about letting clean, unused water run down the drain.
Drinking water is becoming more and more of an issue in coastal areas as populations increase, straining groundwater supplies, and droughts dry up rivers and reservoirs. In many communities, groundwater levels have dropped so much that salty seawater has seeped in, contaminating supplies.
With the abundance of ocean water so tantalizingly close, many coastal communities suffer from the Ancient Mariner's lament of water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. The cost of desalting seawater and the risk of environmental damage has just been too high.
The Tampa Bay region of Florida is lamenting no more. A new $110 million plant there promises to convert seawater into fresh drinking water, safely and at a reasonable cost. As a result, Tampa Bay is now the first area in the country to get a substantial portion of its drinking water from the sea.
But can and should other coastal communities follow suit? The cover story in this edition of Coastal Services examines Tampa Bay's experience and looks at the factors communities should consider before deciding to fill their cups with seawater.
Florida's coastal managers warn that it's never too early to start planning for alternative water sources.
Smart growth issues like this also will be examined this summer in Baltimore, Maryland, at Coastal Zone 03 (CZ 03), the premier international gathering of ocean and coastal management professionals.
This biennial symposium attracts over 1,200 participants from around the world, so early registration, before May 15, is recommended. I encourage you to join us at CZ 03 from July 13 through 17 as we explore coastal zone management through time.
-- Margaret A. Davidson
