Lake Okeechobee was the main water source during Florida ’ s water shortage . It was only 12 feet deep , but covers 730 sq . miles .
The lake that contributed the most water was Lake Okeechobee . Despite it ’ s only 12 feet deep , it has 730 square miles covered . It has a massive water treatment plant and distributed most of the daily 200,000 gallons imported to the other parts of the state . But one problem with it was the agriculture of the people of the everglades . There were 20,000 people in the everglades agricultural area who grew vegetables and sugar on 450,000 acres of land . Lots of water was needed to grow the crops , plus the water it took to give to the people to drink in the first place . Not only that , but the cows were a problem as well . There were at least 45,000 cow in the area north of Lake Okeechobee . Due to this , everyday they created raw waste equivalent to 22 human beings . This 2,295 tons of waste contributed to the daily 1.5 tons of phosphorous and nitrogen that flowed into the bottom of Lake Okeechobee . Rainfall was generous , but not that much . It rain 45-60 inches a year , and mostly in the soggy summer season . This shows that Earth ’ s water can be quickly destroyed . But by , exactly … what ?