Water bottling plant faces scrutiny as drought forces Santa Fe River businesses to adjust

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. (WCJB) — Water levels are running low at the Santa Fe River, and business owners say they have to change how they operate on the water because of it.

North central Florida is in an exceptional drought, the highest level classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Counties including Alachua, Marion, and Bradford have shifted into that category, with groundwater supplies and the aquifer at some of their lowest levels in more than a decade.

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At the center of the discussion is water being pumped from the Ginnie Springs area under a state permit.

The Suwannee River Water Management District manages water use permits, including one held by Seven Springs Water Company, which allows the withdrawal of nearly 1 million gallons a day for bottling by Blue Triton Brands.

Members of some environmental groups say those large-scale withdrawals are contributing to dropping water levels and reduced flow in the Santa Fe River.

“We are definitely seeing less people use the river because of the low water conditions that we’re experiencing today,” said Merrilee Malwitz Jipson, owner of Rum 138. “The last time that we saw this was in 2012, and then we had one of the second-highest floods on record, and it washed all of our problems away until today.”

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Jipson said lower water levels are impacting how far her business can safely operate on the river and forcing constant adjustments for customers.

District officials say agriculture makes up the largest share of water use in the region, while beverage production accounts for less than one-half of one percent of total water use.

Officials say all large permitted users are subject to water shortage rules, and water use is managed under state regulations.

Seven Springs Water Company did not respond to a request for comment.

The lack of rainfall and low water levels have been major contributors to the highly active wildfire season in North Central Florida this year.

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