Florida Springs – Polluted or Not?

A clear-headed look at what’s really happening beneath the surface.

If you’ve lived in Florida long enough, you’ve heard the news media making some noise and adding some warnings such as our famous turquoise springs are “toxic,” “dying,” or “full chemicals.” They want to sell news, so of course they make it sound scary. So, what's the truth?

Let’s fact-check what’s actually going on under all that crystal-clear water.

What We Know for Sure

Florida has more than 1,100 natural springs — which is probably the highest concentration on Earth, but that's a different topic. Thirty of these springs are called “first-magnitude” spring. That means they are pushing out at least 100 cubic feet (74,800 gallons) of water every second! That fills an average home's swimming pool in a quarter of a second or an Olympic swimming pool in just under nine seconds.

These springs aren’t just pretty swimming holes. They’re windows into the Floridan Aquifer, the same underground system that supplies drinking water to most of the state. Now, according to a 2025 Associated Press and WUSF report, all but four of Florida’s major springs are now officially “impaired.” So what? What does that mean? That term doesn’t mean the water is toxic — it means the springs fail to meet one or more state water-quality standards, like nutrient levels or clarity.

How This Affects You

Springs don’t exist in isolation. They’re part of the same system that feeds wells and municipal supplies across North and Central Florida. So, when nitrogen spikes or other contaminants creep in, it’s not just an environmental issue — it’s a drinking-water red flag. And don't forget, most people wash their dishes and cook with tap water. (Consider an under the sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) system.)

Fact Check: Are Florida’s Springs Polluted?

Here’s how the terminology actually breaks down:

• Impaired (legal term): Fails to meet state water-quality standards — most often due to high nitrogen from fertilizers and septic runoff.

• Contaminated: Contains harmful industrial chemicals or heavy metals. That’s rare, but if it happens that's really bad.

• Polluted (common usage): Any human-caused damage that lowers water quality, flow, or ecosystem health. And that's a bit of a "catch-all".

So, while most springs aren’t “toxic,” the majority are impaired enough to trigger cleanup plans. That’s a polite way of saying: yes, they’re getting affected and so there needs to be something done to counteract that or they will only get worse.

What’s Causing It

Fertilizer and Septic Runoff: When it rains, nitrogen and phosphorus wash off lawns, farms, and leaky septic systems. Those nutrients seep into the aquifer and resurface in springs, feeding algae blooms that suffocate native plants and wildlife.

Chemicals in Construction and Industry: Development often involves the use of various chemicals that can leach into water sources.

Increased Vehicle Usage: More cars lead to higher emissions and runoff, contributing to water pollution.

Urbanization: The expansion of concrete surfaces can prevent natural water absorption, leading to increased runoff and contaminants.

What to Watch For

Pay attention to:

• Green slime or cloudy water

• Lower flow or receding water lines

• “Impaired Waters” notices from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

• Boil-water alerts or sudden changes in municipal water taste or smell

You can get updates by subscribing to the Florida DEP here.

What You Can Do

Use less fertilizer: Most lawns don’t need as much as we give them — and since it rains so often in Florida, you will need to wait for a sunny day otherwise the rain will wash alot of it away.

Maintain your septic system: Get the tanks pumped out on a schedule. It's a dirty job (#MikeRowe).

Cut down on single-use plastics: What lands on the ground often ends up in the water.

Support protection efforts: Groups like the Florida Springs Council keep the focus — and funding — on solutions. You can also contact The Way To Happiness for volunteer opportunities that help the community.

Filter your drinking water: Certified reverse-osmosis or catalytic-carbon systems remove many pollutants found in groundwater. We have those.

The Bottom Line

Florida’s springs aren’t beyond saving — but they aren't going to fix themselves. “Polluted” doesn’t always mean “poisoned,” but it does mean we’re going the wrong direction. The right direction is safeguarding the water that we all rely on, which flows through every faucet, every garden, and impacts every life in Florida.

The solution can begin with small actions: protecting each home, avoiding that extra bag of fertilizer, not purchasing plastic bottles, and sending a letter or making a call to remind leaders we are concerned.