Regional Water Supply Planning

Every five years, the Northwest Florida Water Management District updates a District-wide water supply assessment (WSA) to evaluate whether existing and anticipated water sources are sufficient to meet future demands while sustaining water resources and associated natural systems. If the District determines a region’s water needs are likely to exceed available water sources in the next 20 years, the District will prepare a Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP), which identifies alternatives for meeting the anticipated future water needs  (as required by section 373.709, F.S.).

The 2023 Water Supply Assessment update was completed in December, 2023. The Governing Board determined the continued need for regional water supply planning in Region II and that no other regions needed regional water supply planning for the 2025-2045 planning horizon. The District re-evaluates the determination of the need for regional water supply planning every five years.  

 

Public Involvement

Pursuant to Section 373.709(1), Florida Statutes, regional water supply planning is conducted in an open public process, actively engaging stakeholders in public education, outreach, and in seeking input. Following the December 2023 approval of staff’s recommendation to continue the RWSP as noted above, a Region II water supply planning information meeting was held February  7, 2024, to provide an overview of the process and tasks associated with the RWSP update. A copy of the presentation can be found here. 

To share and discuss the Draft 2024 Region II RWSP update, two public workshops are scheduled for December 3, 2024. The workshops will be held in-person at the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Administrative Building (1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547). One workshop for utility and technical staff will be held at 3:00 pm CST and a second workshop for the general public will be held at 5:30 pm CST. The same information will be shared at both workshops. The draft plan is scheduled to be released for review in late November and public comment on the plan will be accepted through December 27, 2024. 

 The draft 2024 Region II RWSP update document and workshop agenda are available for review through the links below. 

DRAFT Region II RWSP 2024 update (to be posted in late November, 2024)

Public Workshop Agenda

Information and links to regions that have had a RWSP to date are below. Any questions or comments may be directed to Kathleen Coates at (850) 539-5999 or Kathleen.Coates@nwfwater.com. 

 

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Region II – Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties

The Region II RWSP was first approved in 2000; updated in 2006, 2012, and 2019.

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Region III – Bay County

The Region III RWSP was first approved in 2008 and updated in 2014. This plan was discontinued in December 2018.

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2007 Regional Water Supply Plan – Region V, Franklin and Gulf Counties

The Region V RWSP was approved in 2007 and discontinued in 2014.