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David Moore, District executive director, and Kirby Green III, St. Johns River Water Management District executive director, discussed regional collaboration and water supply issues during the summit. More than 160 people representing local governments, utilities and various industries came together Friday, March 23, at the Hilton Ocala Hotel for the District’s first northern Water Conservation Summit. Held in partnership with the Suwannee River and St. Johns…

Explaining ASR Technology Too little or too much? With an average of 50-plus inches of rainfall per year, Florida is one of the wettest in the nation. It’s all about timing, however. Ironically, more than 60 percent of the annual precipitation falls between June and November — the very time human demand is at its lowest. In addition, the high evaporation rate that occurs during this time means that only a small portion of that rainfall soaks into the ground to help…

District scientists and planners recently completed an updated Regional Water Supply Plan to assess projected water demands and identify potential sources of water to meet those demands through the year 2025. The Regional Water Supply Plan was first developed in 2001 and is periodically revised based on updated information such as the demand for water. The plan, which was created for a ten-county area from Pasco County to Charlotte County, also identifies the…

Reuse of Wastewater Is Vital to the Region’s Future Reduce, reuse and recycle — the three R’s of reducing waste — is a phrase that traditionally applies to the trash we throw away. But a District program takes the idea of reuse and applies it to one of our most precious resources: water. The program is called water reuse: extending our water supply by using highly treated wastewater for irrigation and other uses. Using this treated wastewater, called reclaimed…

Gifts aren’t the only ways to protect water resources this holiday season. Be water-wise when selecting holiday decorations. Here are some suggestions:  • Add some color to your holiday decorating with red salvia splendens. The plant requires little maintenance once placed in your garden after the holidays.  • Use items found around your yard and home to decorate. Palm fronds, magnolia leaves, pinecones and citrus fruit make great ingredients for…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a water use permit that will allow Oldsmar to withdraw an average of 2.7 million gallons per day of brackish ground water to meet its needs.Under the previous permit, the City purchased water from St. Petersburg and Pinellas County Utilities to supply all of its potable water demand.This water permit allows Oldsmar to continue purchasing water until the treatment facility is permitted by the…

The Governing Board voted June 29 to let water shortage restrictions expire on June 30. The Governing Board voted to lift the restrictions in response to significant improvements in aquifer and river levels as a result of this winter’s above-average rainfall. Moreover, the region’s major public water suppliers have been able to capture and store large supplies of water to meet the needs of residents. However, the Board urged residents to continue the water conservation…

District Dedication Navigational Lock Operating Hours Daily Hours Oct. 15– Feb. 15 7 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Daily Hours Feb. 16–Oct. 14 7 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1 p.m. –8 p.m. “This structure is placed here to protect and enhance this riverine system. It is here through the persistence and tenacity of hundreds of citizens who cared enough to get involved. If we continue our work together, we can save this wonderful river for future generations.” So said…

Southwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director David L. Moore this month declared a modified Phase II Severe Water Shortage that restricts lawn watering to one day per week throughout the 16-county District. The restrictions apply to the use of water from public and private water utilities, as well as the use of all wells and surface water sources (ponds, rivers, etc.). The order went into effect January 16 and will remain in place until July 31 unless…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday issued a water use permit (WUP) to Pasco County to supplement its reclaimed water system until its reclaimed water storage reservoirs are complete.The permit is for an annual average of 500,000 gallons of water per day (gpd) to be drawn from three new wells. Irrigation demands currently exceed the amount of available reclaimed water in Pasco County.The permit requires the county to follow two-day-per-…

Today is the last day of Water Conservation Month, and April is traditionally one of the driest of the year and peak demand season for public water suppliers. The District works with our local government partners to share the importance of water conservation and to increase efforts to conserve water. Thanks to all our partners who joined the District in proclaiming April as Water Conservation Month. The following local governments and partners have declared…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will observe May 19-25 as Water Reuse Week. Governor Rick Scott proclaimed Florida Water Reuse Week to highlight the importance of water reuse to the sustainability of Florida's water supply and overall ecosystem. Water reuse is essential to ensuring safe, clean and sustainable water resources. As part of the District's efforts to highlight water reuse awareness throughout our 16-…

The District’s Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.) is being noticed throughout the southeast for its success. Governing Board member Watson Haynes II and Melissa Roe, a District senior communications coordinator, will represent the District when they accept a Gulf Guardian Award in Corpus Christi, Texas. Water C.H.A.M.P. received second place among government programs that help protect the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf Guardian Awards are…

Hotels and motels in both Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa saved 35 million gallons of water during 2004 while participating in the Southwest Florida Water Management District water conservation program known as Water C.H.A.M.P. or Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program.Based on City of Tampa and Hillsborough County potable water rates, that translates into more than $180,000 in savings per year to participating hoteliers.The Water C.H.A.M.P. is a “linens…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday passed a resolution proclaiming Sept. 9-15 as “Water Reuse Week.”By declaring “Water Reuse Week,” the District joins the Governor’s office and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in an effort to promote water reuse and the need for water conservation.Water reuse is a key component in meeting the current and future water needs of the region.Water reuse…

Pledge to conserve water in 2018. Here are 18 simple ways to save water:

1. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.
2. Take shorter showers, 5 minutes or less. 
3. Flush less. The toilet isn’t a trashcan.
4. Only operate the dishwasher with a full load.
5. Thaw frozen food in the fridge, not under running water.
6. Purchase water-efficient appliances for your home.
7. Only wash laundry with a full…

Water resources education is hitting the road. The Crystal Springs Foundation recently unveiled WaterVentures, Florida’s Learning Lab. The traveling lab is a science center housed in a customized 53-foot semi-trailer that will tour elementary schools throughout the state. The vehicle features hands-on activities about Florida’s water and how to protect it. The exhibits touch on topics like aquifers and the natural filtration of spring water. The traveling lab is…

Overwatering in Winter Can Encourage Pests and Disease The Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to “Skip a Week” of watering during the cooler months of December, January and February. According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during the cooler months. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient. Furthermore, if your lawn…

The District’s Governing Board recently voted to let water shortage restrictions expire due to significant improvements in the aquifer and river levels as a result of this summer’s above-average rainfall. Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties had been subject to District-declared once-per-week lawn watering restrictions and other stringent requirements. Thirteen other counties were under a drought advisory, which required water utilities to do extra enforcement…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has extended the water shortage emergency order issued Aug. 13 for the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority’s reservoir and two Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wellfields to help protect the drinking water supply for more than 250,000 residents.An executive order signed Wednesday will allow the authority to continue to temporarily increase withdrawals from the Peace River to store additional water in the…