Residents are invited to attend the North Central Florida Water Summit 2026 on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Alachua Lions Club in Alachua.
The free public event will run from 2 to 5 p.m. at 15125 NW 142nd Terrace and is presented by the Sierra Club Suwannee-St. Johns Group in partnership with the League of Women Voters of Alachua. It will focus on drinking water, the Floridan Aquifer and the challenges facing North Central Florida’s water resources. A livestream will also be available.
Reservations are encouraged through the Sierra Club’s event registration page.
According to a League of Women Voters and Sierra Club Suwannee-St. Johns Group press release, organizers say the region is facing increasing pressure from drought, development, wastewater challenges, pollution and new water-intensive industries. The summit will also examine the importance of state and local decisions as changes to federal wetland protections place greater emphasis on local water management.
The summit will bring together water scientists, policy experts and clean-water advocates to discuss:
- Factors that may affect drinking water and private wells.
- How drought, groundwater pumping and growth can stress the Floridan Aquifer.
- The importance of protecting springs, wetlands and groundwater recharge areas.
- How decisions are made regarding water resources and development.
- Ways residents can advocate for clean, safe and affordable water.
The event will also provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, meet representatives of regional water-protection organizations and learn practical ways to participate in water-related decisions.