The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a modification of a water use permit that will allow Polk City to pump more water to meet the projected population growth through 2013.
The permitted quantity was an annual average of 320,000 gallons per day (gpd.) Under the modified permit, the city will now be able to withdraw an annual average of 967,200 gpd. This permitted quantity will primarily supply potable water to single and multi-family developments and will also be used for landscape irrigation as well as commercial and industrial purposes.
As part of the permit, the city is also required to promote water conservation. In an effort to do so, the city has reduced its water use from 153 to 128 gallons of water per person per day.