Miami-Dade's Water Pollution Solutions: A Comprehensive Guide

Miami-Dade County is taking proactive measures to combat water pollution and protect groundwater, ensuring a clean and affordable supply of drinking water. One of their key strategies is preventing contamination by regulating land uses and activities that may generate pollutants, with a focus on Wellfield Protection Areas surrounding public water supply wells. Additionally, the Blue Water Task Force, a volunteer program by the Surfrider Foundation, plays a crucial role in monitoring water quality at local beaches, testing for enterococcus, a fecal bacteria indicator of human or animal waste. This program, along with the Florida Department of Health's beach monitoring, provides up-to-date water quality information, influencing public policy and ensuring safe recreational activities in Miami-Dade County.

Protecting groundwater to maintain a clean and affordable supply of drinking water

Miami-Dade County protects groundwater to maintain a clean and affordable supply of drinking water. An important strategy focuses on preventing contamination before it can happen by regulating types of land uses and activities that may generate pollutants. Efforts focus most on Wellfield Protection Areas, the zones surrounding public water supply wells.

Anyone may contribute to water pollution by pouring used engine oil in the backyard or storm drain, throwing litter out of the car window, or using too much fertilizer or pesticide at home. Together we must work together to ensure that the water bodies, groundwater and drinking water that we share will be clean and healthy.

Biscayne Bay and adjoining waters are among Miami-Dade’s most outstanding natural resources. The Miami Chapter recently received great coverage of their Blue Water Task Force and their efforts to solve pollution problems at an important public access point into Biscayne Bay on CBS News Miami. The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is the Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer water quality monitoring program, dedicated to protecting public health at local beaches. This program tests water samples for enterococcus, a fecal bacteria that indicates the presence of human or animal waste.

Sources of water pollution can be wastewater, other liquid wastes, stormwater runoff or even solid wastes that contaminate or even obstruct our waterways and conveyance systems.

Preventing contamination by regulating land uses and activities

Miami-Dade County protects groundwater to maintain a clean and affordable supply of drinking water. An important strategy focuses on preventing contamination before it can happen by regulating types of land uses and activities that may generate pollutants. Efforts focus most on Wellfield Protection Areas, the zones surrounding public water supply wells.

Sources of water pollution can be wastewater, other liquid wastes, stormwater runoff or even solid wastes that contaminate or even obstruct our waterways and conveyance systems. Many of the "point" sources of contamination may be industrial or pretreatment facilities, however, industry does not bear all the responsibility for water pollution. Anyone may contribute to this type of pollution by pouring used engine oil in the backyard or storm drain, throwing litter out of the car window, or using too much fertilizer or pesticide at home.

The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) is the Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer water quality monitoring program, dedicated to protecting public health at local beaches. This program tests water samples for enterococcus, a fecal bacteria that indicates the presence of human or animal waste. BWTF data from Surfrider Miami complements the beach monitoring program conducted by the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. While the state collects samples each Monday, Surfrider Miami conducts additional sampling at most of these locations on Thursdays. Results are posted every Friday, providing the public with up-to-date water quality information just in time for weekend activities. This data is also shared with local policymakers to influence public policy and improve water quality across the area.

Biscayne Bay and adjoining waters are among Miami-Dade’s most outstanding natural resources. Together we must work together to ensure that the water bodies, groundwater and drinking water that we share will be clean and healthy. For educational materials or presentations about water pollution or any other environmental topic, call 305-372-6784.

Testing water samples for enterococcus, a fecal bacteria that indicates human or animal waste

The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), a volunteer water quality monitoring program by the Surfrider Foundation, is dedicated to protecting public health at local beaches in Miami-Dade County. The program tests water samples for enterococcus, a fecal bacteria that indicates the presence of human or animal waste.

The BWTF data from Surfrider Miami complements the beach monitoring program conducted by the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. While the state collects samples each Monday, Surfrider Miami conducts additional sampling at most of these locations on Thursdays. Results are posted every Friday, providing the public with up-to-date water quality information just in time for weekend activities. This data is also shared with local policymakers to influence public policy and improve water quality across the area.

In 2023, 73% of samples taken from Parkview Kayak Launch exceeded state health standards. The Park View Island canal has been under a no-contact-with-water advisory since March 2020. Despite the high bacteria levels and no-contact advisory, people can still be found swimming and kayaking in the canal.

The Miami Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation has received great coverage of their Blue Water Task Force and their efforts to solve pollution problems at an important public access point into Biscayne Bay on CBS News Miami.

The county protects groundwater to maintain a clean and affordable supply of drinking water. An important strategy focuses on preventing contamination before it can happen by regulating types of land uses and activities that may generate pollutants. Efforts focus most on Wellfield Protection Areas, the zones surrounding public water supply wells.

Monitoring water quality through GIS mapping

Miami-Dade County protects groundwater to maintain a clean and affordable supply of drinking water. An important strategy focuses on preventing contamination before it can happen by regulating types of land uses and activities that may generate pollutants. Efforts focus most on Wellfield Protection Areas, the zones surrounding public water supply wells.

DERM's long-term surface water and groundwater quality monitoring programs are conducted in GIS mapping format. The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), the Surfrider Foundation’s volunteer water quality monitoring program, is dedicated to protecting public health at local beaches. This program tests water samples for enterococcus, a fecal bacteria that indicates the presence of human or animal waste.

Biscayne Bay and adjoining waters are among Miami-Dade’s most outstanding natural resources. Sources of water pollution can be wastewater, other liquid wastes, stormwater runoff or even solid wastes that contaminate or even obstruct our waterways and conveyance systems.

Surfrider Miami complements the beach monitoring program conducted by the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County. While the state collects samples each Monday, Surfrider Miami conducts additional sampling at most of these locations on Thursdays. Results are posted every Friday, providing the public with up-to-date water quality information just in time for weekend activities. This data is also shared with local policymakers to influence public policy and improve water quality across the area.

Educating the public on sources of water pollution and how to prevent it

Water pollution is a serious issue in Miami-Dade, with sources of water pollution including wastewater, stormwater runoff, other liquid wastes, and solid wastes. To combat this, Miami-Dade County has implemented several measures, including regulating land uses and activities that may generate pollutants, and protecting groundwater to maintain a clean and affordable supply of drinking water.

One of the key initiatives is the Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), which is a volunteer water quality monitoring program dedicated to protecting public health at local beaches. The BWTF tests water samples for enterococcus, a fecal bacteria that indicates the presence of human or animal waste. This program provides up-to-date water quality information to the public, which is shared with local policymakers to influence public policy and improve water quality.

To educate the public on water pollution, Miami-Dade County offers educational materials and presentations about water pollution and other environmental topics. The county also provides data from DERM's long-term surface water and groundwater quality monitoring programs in GIS mapping format. Additionally, the Surfrider Foundation's Miami Chapter has received great coverage for their efforts to solve pollution problems at an important public access point into Biscayne Bay.

The public can also contribute to water pollution prevention by pouring used engine oil in the backyard or storm drain, throwing litter out of the car window, or using too much fertilizer or pesticide at home. By working together, we can ensure that the water bodies, groundwater, and drinking water that we share will be clean and healthy.

Frequently asked questions