Miami-Dade County, Florida — public water systems

How does Miami-Dade County compare with other Florida counties?

Miami-Dade County has the 6th-most active public water systems among the 138 counties listed for active Florida systems in EPA records; among the 71 with 3 or more systems, the median has 41. Its systems report 3,326,006 people served in total, the largest county figure in the state and 15% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 19,337 people, about 4.5 times the Florida average of 4,345. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Miami-Dade County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Miami-Dade County's active systems draw on groundwater (158, 92%), purchased groundwater (12, 7%), surface water (1, 0.6%) and purchased surface water (1, 0.6%). Overall, 99% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 1.2% on surface water, compared with 98% and 2.1% across Florida. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Mdwasa - Main System, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Miami-Dade County?

Miami-Dade County's active systems break down as 25 community systems (15%), 16 non-transient non-community systems (9.3%) and 131 transient non-community systems (76%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (76%), local government (17%), federal government (6.4%) and state government (1.2%).