Marion County, Florida: drinking water report. Marion County in north-central Florida has about 382,000 residents, with Ocala as the county seat.
Marion County in north-central Florida has about 382,000 residents, with Ocala as the county seat. Known for its horse farms and springs, the county relies on the Floridan Aquifer for virtually all drinking water. The aquifer surfaces at Silver Springs – one of the largest artesian springs in the world – making aquifer quality visible in a way few other counties can match.
Silver Springs serves as a barometer for the Floridan Aquifer's health in Marion County. According to the Florida DEP's 2024 springs monitoring report, nitrate at Silver Springs averaged 2.5 mg/L – a fivefold increase over historical baseline levels. The increase reflects decades of agricultural activity, residential development with septic systems, and fertilizer application over the aquifer's springshed.
The Ocala International Airport has documented AFFF use. Florida DEP's 2024 PFAS investigation found PFOS at 8 ppt in monitoring wells near the facility. The former Lowell Correctional Institution also contributed waste to the aquifer through land-applied biosolids.
Marion County's springs tell you what is in your aquifer. If nitrate at Silver Springs has quintupled, the water coming out of your well reflects the same pressures. Testing provides your specific numbers, but the regional trend is clear.
Check your water for data at your location. For rising nitrate and emerging PFAS, reverse osmosis provides effective household treatment. Our water filter guide covers systems suited to Florida's karst groundwater. Get your detailed report for local trends, and visit our Florida page for statewide patterns.