How does Key West get fresh water?

Where Does Our Water Come From? The freshwater Biscayne Aquifer is the primary groundwater supply source for the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority. Our wellfield is located within an environmentally protected pine rockland forest west of Florida City on the mainland.

Where does Key West get its drinking water from?

The public-water supply for the island is provided by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority Well Field near Miami. However, there are many privately owned wells on the island that tap the local fresh ground-water lens for potable and nonpotable water supply.

When did Key West get fresh water?

The original pipeline held about 10 million gallons of water along its path and water took about six days to reach Key West, depending on the rate of flow. The first water to reach Key West through the new pipeline was on September 22, 1942.

Can you drink the tap water in Key West?

The FKAA treated water is pumped 130 miles from Florida City to Key West, supplying water to the entire Florida Keys. The water provided to customers in the Florida Keys is continuously monitored and tested to ensure the water quality is consistent, safe, and meets all federal and state drinking water standards.

Does Key West have a desalination plant?

The 50-stage, flash evaporator, desalination plant at Key West supplies the City of Key West with about 9.1 million of freshwater per day. Additional water is pumped from the mainland of Florida to this island community.

Key West: The Don'ts of Key West, Florida

Will Key West be underwater in 10 years?

8. Key West, Florida. Florida's famous Key West already has invested in massive infrastructure and relocation projects before untold damage is done. Experts are estimating that parts of Key West will be underwater by 2040, and the money it would cost to prepare for this is in the billions.

Where does the sewage go in Key West?

The collection system is a combination of gravity and low pressure with sewage conveyed to the Cudjoe Regional Advanced Water Reclamation Facility. The facility is located on Cudjoe Key at the former landfill site on Blimp Road.

Why is the water in Key West so clear?

Our waters stay clear and clean thanks to the protection from the Choctawhatchee Bay. Nearby rivers drain directly into the Bay and it acts as a filter for sediment, brackish waters, and carries any potential river runoff away from our crystalline coast.

What should you avoid in Key West?

Why is Key West water so blue?

The Caribbean is such a light a shade of blue due to the tendency of the Caribbean coast to scatter sunlight. The fact that the sand is light colored and the water is relatively shallow also makes the water appear turquoise.

Will the Florida Keys be under water soon?

Can the Florida Keys adapt to sea-level rise? In a TNC study on sea-level rise, areas of Big Pine Key will be under water in a matter of decades.

Why are there no beaches in Key West?

The lack of soft, white sand shoreline in Key West is the result of a beautiful live coral reef that extends from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas National Park. The coral reef prevents natural beach formation because the waves don't crash onshore as you might see in Miami beach.

Why are there no ocean waves at Key West?

You see, Key West and the rest of the Florida Keys are coral islands – former reefs, created when the ocean was deeper and the region was submerged below the sea. Today, the ocean is shallower and the living coral reefs are six miles offshore, providing a barrier to waves and swells.

How deep is the water under the Key West Bridge?

deep; the Seven Mile Bridge below Knight's Key over water 18 to 22-ft. deep; the Bahia Honda Bridge, slightly more than one mile long over water from 20 to 30-ft.

Can you swim in Key West water?

Yes, Key West has several swimmable beaches. The island is located in the Florida Keys, which is known for its clear blue waters. Some of the best beaches for swimming include Smathers Beach, Higgs Beach, and Fort Zachary Taylor State Park.

Are there any freshwater lakes in the Florida Keys?

The Blue Hole is the only fresh water lake in the Florida Keys.

Can you see Cuba from Key West?

The answer the Americans do not like is “no, you cannot see Cuba from Key West. “ The problem is that the earth, being round, curves and Cuba, which is about 90 miles from Key West, falls below the horizon when you look towards it from Key West.

Are sharks a problem in Key West?

It's no guarantee that you'll spot a shark while snorkeling in Key West, but it happens more than you might think. We see sharks at the reef at least once a week, and probably more often than that!

Are there mosquitoes in Key West?

Aedes aegypti, commonly called the Dengue or Yellow Fever Mosquito, is the most common container breeding mosquito in the Florida Keys (especially in Key West).

Will the Florida Keys be underwater in 20 years?

Sea level rise could leave some roads in the Florida Keys underwater by 2025, and fixing the flood threat comes at a staggeringly high cost. Take a look.

Which Florida key has the clearest water?

Fort Zachary Taylor Park Beach, Key West

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is a National Historic Landmark that offers some of the clearest blue waters for snorkeling and diving in Key West.

Where in Florida has the clearest water?

Why does Key West smell like rotten eggs?

Sargassum is a type of brown seaweed that is washing up on beaches in Florida. As it rots, it gives off a substance called hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide has a very unpleasant odor, like rotten eggs.

Why are chickens everywhere in Key West?

The chickens found in Key West are descendants of the jungle fowl that was originally found throughout the Caribbean, including Cuba. Early settlers in Key West had a normal relationship with their chickens, keeping them in coups and using them for food.

Why are there toilet seats in the Florida Keys?

The story has it that due to Hurricane Donna in 1960 all types of household debris was scattered across the island and in its waters. In the aftermath on Donna, one toilet seat was found hanging on one of the homemade posts marking this unofficial channel.