Above: Magnolia Gardens, a project of the Hernando County Housing Authority, recently met the requirements of the Florida Water StarSM program. Top right: Governing Board member Judy Whitehead presents the Florida Water StarSM certification to Magnolia Gardens for meeting the requirements of the program.
A Brooksville apartment complex is the first in Florida to be certified under the Florida Water StarSMCommunity standard.
Magnolia Gardens, a project of the Hernando County Housing Authority, recently received the Florida Water StarSM certificate during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the complex. District Governing Board member Judy Whitehead presented the award to Housing Authority officials after the complex met the requirements of the program to receive the certification.
Florida Water StarSM is a voluntary certification program for builders, developers and homeowners. It encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes.
The 60-unit apartment community for those 55 and older had to meet requirements in three categories: landscape, irrigation and indoor. The property also must meet an irrigation water budget not to exceed 20 inches annually. The community installed water-efficient items like WaterSense® toilets, low-flow showerheads and ENERGY STAR® dishwashers in all of the units.
For more information on the Florida Water StarSM certification, visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/FWS/.