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The District has been working closely with the regional water supply authorities within its boundaries over the last several decades to reduce the region’s reliance on traditional groundwater supplies and achieve environmental recovery by developing alternative water supplies.There is a critical need to develop additional alternative water supplies to meet the region’s substantial population growth and its associated water supply needs. Population growth within the District… Read more

You’ve learned how water continuously moves through the natural water cycle, but did you know that humans have created the urban water cycle? The urban water cycle refers to the ways that humans have engineered systems to capture, clean, use and return water to the environment. With an increase in population and growing demand for water, the urban water cycle can put pressure on traditional water supply sources, such as groundwater… Read more

Water Quality Basics Water quality is a description of the condition of water, similar to how we refer to our health to describe the condition of the human body. Water quality can refer to the chemical, physical and biological condition of water. It also includes evaluating whether water is safe to be used for a specific purpose like drinking, recreation or to support wildlife. You can’t tell much about the quality of water simply by looking at it. In… Read more

The Water Matters Podcast answers your most popular questions about the work done by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and services offered including new projects, springs protection, water conservation efforts and more. Learn about the many ways we serve the community and protect your resources.

Both the United States government and Florida have adopted water quality goals and standards. Each water body has its own standards. For example, water used for drinking has to be much cleaner than water used for crop irrigation or to cool machinery in a factory. Scientists use information from water monitoring to determine how a water body rates based on its intended use. If scientists rate water quality as GOOD, then the water can fully support its… Read more

Scientists use many different instruments to determine the quality of water, including Secchi disks, probes, nets, gauges and meters. Water quality is not just measured by direct sampling. Information can also be derived from aerial and satellite photographs, by observing the surrounding environment and by collecting organisms that live in the body of water. Although you might not have access to the resources of a scientist, there are some simple tests you can perform to… Read more

We all play a role in protecting and conserving our water resources, both above and below ground. But we need leaders like YOU to help inspire others and become a water superhero! How can you become a water superhero? Start by incorporating some of the actions in the chart below into your everyday life. It’s also important to educate your friends, family and neighbors to encourage them to do the same! Ways to Conserve Water

• Take short…

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Introduction You can’t tell much about the quality of water simply by looking at it; most pollutants are invisible to our eyes. And since water is such a vast network (made up of rivers, springs, creeks, swamps, estuaries, wetlands, lakes, bays, etc.), water quality can be difficult to test. Explore the links above to find out more about the history of water testing, pollution, the different tools used to test water, and how you can get involved and even test the… Read more

Certifying excellence in water conservation, saving resources and protecting the environmentThe Florida Water Starsm program is a voluntary certification program for new residential and commercial construction and existing home renovation. The program encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes, as well as water quality benefits from best management practices in landscapes. An average Florida Water Star homeowner… Read more

About Water Quality Both the United States government and Florida have adopted water quality goals and standards. Each water body has its own standards. For example, water used for drinking has to be much cleaner than water used for crop irrigation or to cool machinery in a factory. Scientists use information from water monitoring to determine how a water body rates based on its intended use. If scientists rate water quality as GOOD, then the water can fully support… Read more

Don’t allow your water bill to drain additional money from your restaurant’s profits. Many water-saving tips take little effort or expense, while some require a financial investment that often pays back over time. Regardless of your restaurant’s size, there are simple low-cost steps to save water and money. Educate Your Staff and Guests Conservation at your restaurant starts with you, but management can’t do it alone. It is important to share best management practices… Read more

These short videos with coordinating teacher’s guides are a great way to introduce your students to a variety of topics, which include: the water cycle, wetlands, watersheds, groundwater, water quality and alternative water supply. Read more

Danger Down Below Remember that an aquifer is an underground layer of spongelike rock that holds water. Since the water lies hidden underground, most people can only imagine what an aquifer looks like. Here in Florida, highly-trained experts can visit an aquifer! Of course, it’s not that simple. Cave diving requires expensive equipment, plenty of knowledge and special skills. Even then it is very dangerous. Windows into the Aquifer… Read more

The District and the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) recently issued a joint response to concerns expressed by regulated interests regarding implementation of these permitting criteria. This response is summarized below:

• The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), following the direction of the Department of Environmental Protection (Department), has informed permit applicants that stormwater discharges contributing to…

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District maintains and operates 84 structures throughout the District’s 16-county region. These structures help provide flood protection, manage lake water levels and prevent salt water from flowing up freshwater streams and creeks.            

Overview Applicants will be asked to break this down in more detail in the application. Students will work together to test various water quality parameters and conduct a macroinvertebrate sampling at locations along the Hillsborough River. To determine a healthy ecosystem, students will work in groups and use different monitoring tools to collect data on the river’s temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and nutrient levels. Students… Read more

What does Florida Water StarSM mean for me?

• Saves an estimated $530 on annual utility bills
• Reduces water and energy use 
• Creates peace of mind due to additional home inspections
• Increases resale through higher quality landscape designs and irrigation systems 

What’s in the Florida Water Star criteria? Florida Water Star criteria focus on three main areas: landscapes, irrigation… Read more