Increased Attention on Florida Water Conservation

Increased Attention on Florida Water Conservation

The Five Water Management Districts (WMD) of Florida were created by the Florida Legislature through passage of the Water Resources Act of 1972 designed to help protect and manage water resources in a sustainable manner for welfare of the people.¹

Recently the St. John’s River WMD enhanced its water conservation efforts through the Water Conservation and Demand Management Program that seeks more aggressive water conservation measures than have been implemented in the past.³ The SJRWMD Governing Board is currently discussing a rulemaking initiative which will likely have a significant impact on grocery stores, retail stores, bottled beverages, and restaurants. They are scheduled to discuss the plan at the next SJRWMD Governing Board meeting scheduled for July 13, 2010. In addition to general consumption issues, the Board will focus on how the measures will affect irrigation system design and installation. Future discussion on more comprehensive changes is tentatively planned for September 2010.

All of the districts have their own water conservation rules in effect, but some also allow local governments to further regulate water use.² The Charlotte County Commission recently adopted a year-round water conservation ordinance to prevent water consumption overload during water shortage periods.⁴ The Homestead City Council, in Miami-Dade County, has gone so far as to adopt an ordinance to establish a water fixture retrofit program to encourage and provide incentives for installation of low flow water fixtures to increase water conservation among commercial and residential water utility customers.⁵

Do you agree with strict water conservation measures, or do you feel that local governments and water management districts are overstepping their authority by dictating how residences and businesses consume water? Do you think restrictive rules should differ between residential consumers and business consumers? Please comment and share your thoughts.

Listed below are more water conservation examples tracked by OrdinanceWatch™. Visit our website at www.OrdinanceWatch.com where you can sign up for advance notice of pending local government action email advisories.

• St. Johns River Water Management District to continue discussion of proposed amendments to the Water Conservation Rule
• Charlotte County, FL Adopts Year-Round Water Conservation Ordinance
• Clay County, FL Adopts Water Conservation Ordinance
• Port Orange, FL to Hold First Reading of Model Water Conservation Ordinance for Landscape Irrigation
• Homestead, FL Adopts Ordinance to Increase Water Conservation among Commercial and Residential Users

<sup>1. “Water Conservation.” Northwest Florida Water Management District. 1 July 2010. Web. 01 July 2010. <http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/>.
2. District Water Restrictions.” Southwest Florida Water Management District Home Page. 1 July 2010. Web. 01 July 2010. <http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/restrictions/swfwmd.php>.
3. Site, Accessing This. “Floridaswater.com: Water Conservation: Home.” Floridaswater.com: Web Site of the St. Johns River Water Management District. 1 July 2010. Web. 01 July 2010. <http://sjr.state.fl.us/waterconservation/index.html>.
4.”BCC Agenda.” Official Government Website for Charlotte County FL Board of County Commissioners. 1 July 2010. Web. 01 July 2010. <http://www.charlottecountyfl.com/agenda/>.
5. “City Council.” City of Homestead. 1 July 2010. Web. 01 July 2010. <http://ci.homestead.fl.us/pages/city_hall/agendas.aspx>.</sup>