[GOPJ]

Oil infusion of the aquifers would be worse.

We've had salt water intrusions before - but not so much as to ruin the water supply. Would oil destroy fresh water - making Florida unlivable?

[MSF BU]

My first thought as well; Tampa relies to some extent on reverse osmosis for drinking water. This could be a MAJOR problem. Meanwhile, however, oil skimmers in Europe that were made available remain idle across the Atlantic.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

Unless there is a direct pipeline to the aquifer, the fresh water will be safe. The great thing about our earth is its own methodology of self defense. Between the aquifer and the oil is good old mother earth, a wonderful filter for all kinds of bad things. Oil will easily be filtered by the process ... again a natural process already in place. Salt water gets in because anything SOLUBLE in the water (like salt) will penetrate the aquifer. But the oil will be filtered out. It'll make a mess, but the fresh water should be safe.

What I hate is the first sentence of the article: As FEMA and other government agencies prepare for what is now being called the worst oil spill disaster in history, plans to evacuate the Tampa Bay area are in place. FEMA? Who's FEMA ... can anybody name their "director?" And to see a scare "line" like this. Like they're going to see some oil coming ashore and evacuate Tampa Bay ... geez a bunch of media hype. Imagine, if people thought the next day after passage that health care was free, what would those people think if they read this line? This isn't "smoke" and talking about the respiratory problems is just going to line up a bunch of willing clients and sheister lawyers to tap BP's slush fund for "damages." Irresponsible journalism!

[mojitojoe]

Good question. Unlikely but possible. It wouldn’t be unlivable. Water lines would have to be run from other states.,