Water conservationists gather to share successes and strategies

Collaboration is key for turning ambitious ideas into reality, and few goals are more ambitious than raising awareness about water conservation. Protecting our water supplies and supporting Florida’s ecosystems—like springs, rivers, lakes, and wetlands—is crucial for meeting future needs.

That’s why water conservation coordinators from all over the St. Johns River Water Management District 18-county region gather each quarter to discuss their efforts, exchange ideas and experience, reflect on their successes, confront ongoing challenges and chart a course for the future of sustainable water management.

Their most recent exchange took place in the northern part of the District, at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Surrounded by vibrant wildlife and lush greenery, the zoo shared its innovative sustainability practices. The zoo composts both animal and plant waste, prioritizes native plants and adheres to the “right plant, right place” philosophy (idea that if you select plants that match a site’s soil, light, water and climatic conditions you can conserve water). They rarely water beyond the establishment phase, avoid the use of fertilizers and pesticides and embrace native weeds as part of their ecosystem. Attendees toured the zoo, viewing signage that highlights conservation tips and facts, sponsored by the District.

JEA also presented their water conservation measures, including a rebate program for smart irrigation controllers that applies to both potable and reclaimed water.

“Outdoor water use is our primary focus for water savings in the District, with an average use of close to one thousand gallons every time you run your irrigation system,” says Gretchen Smith, a water conservation coordinator with the District. “Smart controllers optimize water usage through scheduling and rain sensors. JEA is one of the first to include reclaimed water users in their rebate program, so it will be interesting to see if others follow suit.”

The District also had the opportunity to introduce its newest addition to the water conservation team, Kraig McLane. McLane joins Smith and Deirdre Irwin as part of a new structure that assigns a water conservation coordinator to each of the District’s water supply planning regions. With a third coordinator on board, the District can enhance its regional focus with Irwin covering the Central Florida Water Initiative, Smith overseeing the Central Springs/East Coast Water Supply Planning Area, and McLane working with the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership.

“We learn a lot from each other by sharing our experiences,” McLane says. “But there’s even more to these meetings—we’re building relationships and trust among one another, and now with a dedicated person for each region, that connection will only deepen.”

These meetings began in 2016 when Irwin noticed that many utilities were reaching out to her with similar questions about water conservation. “It just made sense to bring everyone together in the same room to talk about our common approaches. We held our first gathering in central Florida, and since then, it’s evolved into quarterly meetings that rotate locations throughout the District.”

“All our meetings start the same way,” Irwin adds. “We go around the room, and everyone introduces themselves and discusses a success or a challenge they encountered in their water conservation program. It may take time, but people are always busy taking notes. It’s the best way to learn from each other’s experiences and find out what’s working and what isn’t.”

This approach has proven invaluable over the years, helping utilities refine and develop programs. For instance, when the Clay County Utility Authority shared their innovative leak detection and notification system, which alerts customers when a leak is suspected, it sparked a wave of inspiration among other utilities.

Another great example comes from Orange County Utilities, which concentrated its water conservation efforts on a single neighborhood with high water usage. By focusing education, rebates and irrigation programming in that area, they achieved significant results. This targeted approach has been mirrored by other utilities aiming for similar success.

All our partnerships play an important role in advancing our water conservation efforts.  The strong network established through these important meetings, along with the newly appointed water conservation coordinators in each supply planning region, enhances our initiatives. Our sponsorship of local attractions like the zoo and national teams such as the Jacksonville Jaguars reflects our commitment to community engagement. We’re always seeking innovative ways to share our mission and engage with new audiences, transforming ambitious water-saving goals into tangible outcomes that ensure a sustainable water supply for generations to come.

To learn more about the District’s water conservation efforts, visit www.sjrwmd.com/water-conservation. Additional water-saving insights and resources can be found at www.WaterLessFlorida.com.