Wellfield Protection Areas

In Miami-Dade County, our drinking water is drawn from the Biscayne Aquifer, a freshwater-bearing limestone rock formation underneath our feet. This aquifer allows millions of local residents and visitors the benefits of a clean, accessible, and relatively inexpensive source of potable water.

The aquifer is extremely porous and the water table is very close to the surface of the ground, making it vulnerable to pollution. Pollutants that are discharged onto the ground or that occur in surface waters can contaminate the groundwater and be drawn into wells that supply drinking water.

For these reasons, Miami-Dade County oversees programs to protect the Biscayne Aquifer from potential sources of contamination.

To reduce the risk of pollution and the cost of treatment of public water supply, the County works with industry, business and homeowners, especially in specific areas around the network of drinking water wellfields know as wellfield protection areas.

The protection areas are designated based on geological characteristics of the aquifer and the flow of water through it. New activities that use or store hazardous materials or generate hazardous waste are prohibited within certain parts of the wellfield protection areas.

There may also be limitations on extent of excavations within a wellfield protection area, or on septic tank specifications and uses.

If you are purchasing a property or propose operating a business in a protection area and intend to use or store hazardous materials, or the property is served by a septic tank or on-site domestic water well, you should call the County to discuss, and better understand, any prohibitions, limitations or possible exemptions that apply to the property or business.

You may also search for information concerning the environmental characteristics of properties using the Environmental Considerations GIS tool.

For information on general permitting requirements and land use restrictions in wellfield protection areas, call 305-372-6700.

•   Wellfields Map (6 MB) (34" x 44")

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