This Week’s Hot Topics
- Home water conservation program launched.
- Nov. 24 permitting public meeting agenda is available.
- Governing Board approves Solary Canal Project.
- Land purchase offers water storage potential, partnership with Volusia.
- District Governing Board elects 2009-2010 officers.
- New water conservation cost-share program information available.
- Watering restrictions changed Nov. 1 to one day per week.
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Saving water
District takes the lead in promoting water conservation
Water conservation is receiving increased national attention these days, whether brought on by a growing population, climate change or through general water supply discussions.
While others are just now bringing water conservation to the forefront, it is a topic that has had the commitment of the St. Johns River Water Management District for many years.
At the core of the District’s mission is protecting and ensuring the sustainability of Florida’s water resources, both belowground in the Floridan aquifer system and aboveground in our rivers, lakes and streams.
“Water conservation is the cornerstone of Florida’s water sustainability,” says District Executive Director Kirby Green. “The District believes that conservation is a critical strategy in meeting the current and future water supply needs of our state.”
The District has long taken a leadership role in implementing numerous water conservation strategies and programs that include water use regulation and enforcement; assisting in the development of local government ordinances and policies to promote water savings, water-efficient residential and commercial building practices; and providing education to adults and children.
Following is an overview of the District’s ongoing water conservation efforts.
Outdoors
The greatest water savings can be realized outdoors. More than half of residential water is used on lawns and landscapes. The District’s consumptive use permitting program regulates lawn and landscape irrigation for individual homes and small businesses regardless of whether water is supplied by a water utility or a private well. The permitting program also requires larger water users to implement water conservation measures and use reclaimed water, storm water and surface water for irrigation where feasible.
Lawn and landscapes
Mandatory water conservation has been in place in the District since 1991.During daylight saving time, landscape irrigation rules limit watering to no more than two days a week, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., and only on designated days. During Eastern Standard Time, irrigation is limited to one day per week on designated days. Only a few exceptions exist. For additional information about watering restrictions, click the “more” button at right. more
Local governments are encouraged to adopt ordinances that implement the District’s lawn and landscape irrigation rule, and ordinances that establish landscape and irrigation standards to ensure efficient outdoor water use.
Agriculture
The District issues water use permits for agricultural purposes, but these often require the use of reclaimed water or recycled water on-site to minimize withdrawals from groundwater or surface water supplies. In addition, agricultural water users must demonstrate water conservation techniques by upgrading to more efficient irrigation systems and implementing improvements that result in water savings.
Agricultural permits limit when and how much water can be used for irrigation. Water use allocations are determined by irrigation best management practices for specific crop production.
Golf courses
Most golf courses in the District use reclaimed water and storm water for irrigation of greens and tees. Golf courses are required to reduce the amount of acreage irrigated, install and use irrigation systems that reduce the volume of water used and install soil moisture and rain sensors.
Additional water conservation provisions are included in golf course irrigation permits.
Florida Water Star SM
Developed by the District and launched in 2006, the Florida Water StarSM certification program encourages water efficiency in household appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes in new home construction. The District’s goal for Florida Water StarSM is to realize a water savings of at least 40 percent outdoors and 20 percent indoors over traditional residential water use. more
Low impact development
Low impact development (LID) involves using alternative development principles to minimize the potential impact from development on natural systems. For instance, LID considers rainfall a valuable resource to be filtered, stored for reuse, allowed to evaporate and detained close to its source rather than drained into water bodies.
The District partners with the University of Florida, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, county governments and other public entities to inform the building industry throughout the region about LID’s benefits. more
Water Conservation Public Awareness Campaign
The District’s annual campaign is designed to provide information to large numbers of people and engage them in water-conserving behaviors. Broadening the reach of the water conservation message to audiences that may not already have an interest in conserving is vital to achieve the levels of conservation needed to reduce growing demand.
The campaign is designed to enhance community-based efforts, promoting the message through television, radio, newspaper, Internet, billboards, direct mail, brochures, giveaways and the campaign Web site floridaswater.com. Twenty-nine utilities partnered with the District in the 2008 campaign. more
The Great Water OdysseySM
The Great Water OdysseySM takes the water conservation message directly to the next generation. It is an interactive, multidisciplinary, computer-animated educational software program that introduces elementary school students to water resource and conservation issues. The program was developed by the District with the assistance of a panel of award-winning educators and experts from the fields of science and water management. more
Adult education programs
The District provides information to school and community groups, and at seminars, exhibits and other community events. Specific District education programs include Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), WaterWays, and the District’s Watershed Action Volunteer (WAV) Program.
Brochures on water conservation, waterwise landscaping, and designing and maintaining irrigation systems are produced and distributed to the public. The District’s Web site, www.sjrwmd.com, provides extensive water conservation information as well as an order form to have materials sent directly to individuals. The District also offers a speaker’s bureau to coordinate water conservation presentations to community groups. more
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