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Land is very important to the water cycle. A WATERSHED is any area of land that water flows across or through. Where is the water going? Downhill of course. Water in a watershed trickles and flows toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast. Watersheds can be big or small, but they usually have high points (like ridges) as their upper boundaries. So watersheds capture water, store it… Read more

The word “resiliency” can be described as the ability to recover quickly from disasters and adapt to future conditions. The word also refers to building defenses against the impacts of climate change.   Coastal Florida is vulnerable to impacts from climate change, which may include temperature extremes, intensified storms, increased flooding and sea level rise. West-central Florida has already seen some of these adverse impacts, and projections show the impacts… Read more

Aquifer An aquifer is an area underground that holds water in the gaps between rock, sand or gravel, sort of like an underground lake or stream. Aquitard An aquitard is an underground layer that water can’t move through easily. An aquitard, which might be something like solid rock or fine clay, can trap water in separate aquifers or force it to move in different directions. Condensation Water changing from a gas into a liquid — this is how water vapor turns… Read more

What are MFLs?“MFLs” is short for minimum flows and minimum water levels. Minimum flows are set for rivers, streams, estuaries, and springs, while minimum water levels are established for lakes, wetlands, and aquifers. In short, an MFL sets a limit on how much water can be withdrawn from a water resource to prevent significant harm occurring to the water resources or the ecology of the area.Why does the Southwest Florida Water Management District set MFLs?Florida law (… Read more

Hospitals use an average of 139,214 gallons per day of water. This checklist will help facility managers evaluate the appropriateness of water-saving adjustments for improving the efficiency of your health care facility. Remember, water savings often bring energy savings, too. This information is based on the results of water use evaluations of 26 industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) facilities throughout the Tampa Bay area. The checklist has been adapted… Read more

Office buildings use an average of 14,695 gallons per day of water. This checklist will help facility managers evaluate the appropriateness of water-saving adjustments for improving the efficiency of your building. Remember, water savings often bring energy savings, too. This information is based on the results of water use evaluations of 26 industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) facilities throughout the Tampa Bay area. The checklist has been adapted from a… Read more

Manufacturers use an average of 144,542 gallons per day of water. This checklist will help facility managers evaluate the appropriateness of water-saving adjustments for improving the efficiency of your plant. Remember, water savings often bring energy savings, too. This information is based on the results of water use evaluations of 26 industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) facilities throughout the Tampa Bay area. The checklist has been adapted from a… Read more

Schools use an average of 22,284 gallons per day of water. This checklist will help facility managers evaluate the appropriateness of water-saving adjustments for improving the efficiency of your school or college. Remember, water savings often bring energy savings, too. This information is based on the results of water use evaluations of 26 industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) facilities throughout the Tampa Bay area. The checklist has been adapted from a… Read more

What springs are located within our District? There are more than 200 springs within the District. There are five first-magnitude spring groups in the District. First-magnitude springs, which are the largest springs by volume of water discharged, release 64.6 million gallons per day or more. The five springs are: Rainbow River, Crystal River/Kings Bay, Homosassa River, Chassahowitzka River and Weeki Wachee River. Together, they discharge more than one… Read more

Florida’s coastal ecosystems are among the most diverse in the world. At the heart of these ecosystems is seagrass—a vital underwater plant that supports marine life, improves water quality, protects shorelines and stores carbon.Since 1988, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has mapped seagrass to help guide decisions that protect and sustain our bays, estuaries and coastal waters. But how exactly is seagrass mapped and why is it important? The… Read more

The majority of the freshwater supply in west-central Florida comes from groundwater, most commonly the Floridan aquifer system. The Floridan aquifer system contains the largest aquifers within the state and stretches 100,000 square miles beneath Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. The Floridan aquifer system has been divided into the Upper Floridan aquifer and Lower Floridan aquifers. Between the aquifers are… Read more

The Splash! school grant program provides up to $3,000 per teacher to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources issues. Public and charter school teachers of grades K through 12 are eligible to apply.COMPLETING YOUR APPLICATIONBefore completing a grant application, be prepared with the following:Grant Topic: Review the grant topics and associated details below. Select one or more grant topics and plan your associated key concepts,… Read more

The study evaluated if opening the water control structures on Channels A and G would improve natural systems and water quality in the channels and ultimately Old Tampa Bay. Project Overview In 2014, the District, in partnership with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, conducted a pilot study on Channels A and G, located in northwest Hillsborough County (… Read more

We all live in a watershed. That means that what we do on land impacts water bodies both near and far. To protect our water resources, we all must do our part. And sometimes that means preserving habitats that naturally protect water bodies from harmful pollutants, such as our wonderful wetlands! What are wetlands? The term wetland refers to a wide variety of aquatic habitats. Wetland ecosystems include swamps,… Read more

Use your water meter to check for leaks

1. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Remember to wait for the hot water heater and ice cube makers to refill and for regeneration of water softeners.
2. Go to your water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes. (Remember: no water should be used during this period.)
3. Read the meter again. If the reading has changed, you…

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What Is Stormwater Runoff? In Florida, stormwater runoff occurs during or after a rainfall event. Stormwater from the rain flows over impervious, or hard, surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, streets, parking lots and roofs, where it is unable to percolate (filter or seep) into the ground. This unfiltered water then reaches our neighborhood streams, ponds, lakes, bays, wetlands and oceans. It can even make its way into… Read more

Restaurants use an average of 5,800 gallons per day of water. Following a comprehensive water use evaluation, a Largo, Florida restaurant was given the following recommendations for water conservation: Bathroom Retrofits

• replacing toilets with new 1.6 gallon per flush models
• installing lavatory aerators that reduced the water flow from 2.7 to 1.5 galons per minute

Potential savings of 700,00 gallons of water and $3,860 each… Read more

Healthy watersheds keep recycling clean, fresh water, over and over again. How do they do it? Swamps, marshes and other wetlands can filter polluted water and make it cleaner. Other parts of a watershed, like streams, GROUNDWATER and even the beach, are important as well. That's one reason why we need to make sure to leave enough wetlands and other natural areas in each watershed. Sometimes it's… Read more

It is important to remember that you cannot tell very much about the quality of water simply by looking at it. Most pollutants are invisible to the naked eye. There are three major types of pollutants that affect water quality. Let’s take a look at each type. Dirt Rain can wash dirt into rivers and streams. The dirt can smother tiny organisms and kill fish eggs clinging to rocks on the riverbed. Dirt can also clog gills and suffocate fish. Too much… Read more

The purpose of the Public Supply Advisory Committee (PSAC) is to provide professional and technical input into District programs and activities.This includes regulatory programs, rule revisions, water conservation activities, water resource planning, water resource and supply development projects, research and other water resource management projects that relate to the environment. Subject matter considered by the PSAC shall relate to the statutory duties and… Read more