Overview
Water conservation is the prevention and reduction of wasteful or unreasonable uses of water to improve efficiency of use. The overall water conservation goal of the state is to prevent and reduce wasteful, uneconomical, impractical, or unreasonable use of water resources. [Section 373.227(1), Florida Statutes] One of the District’s core missions is ensuring adequate and reliable supply of water for the people and natural resources of northwest Florida. As such, water conservation is a prevalent goal for many District’s programs and activities, such as the Agricultural BMP Cost-Share Program, Water Conservation Grant Cost-Share Program, Consumptive Use Permitting, and public education.
All Floridians can help play a role in the protection and conservation of the state’s ground and surface water resources by following water-savings tips or participating in voluntary programs. [Indoor and Outdoor Water Conservation Brochures]
Agriculture
Since 2013, the District has administered an Agriculture Best Management Practices Cost-Share Program. Since its implementation, the program has helped reduce nutrient loading and water use in the Jackson Blue Spring groundwater contribution area by providing cost-share funding to eligible agricultural producers for equipment and practices. In 2024, the program was expanded to include the Chipola River Springs Groundwater Contribution area.
Alternative Water Supply (AWS)
The District works in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide funding assistance for alternative water supply projects. “Alternative water supplies” include salt water; brackish surface and groundwater; surface water captured predominately during wet-weather flows; sources made available through the addition of new storage capacity for surface or groundwater, water that has been reclaimed after one or more public supply, municipal, industrial, commercial, or agricultural uses; the downstream augmentation of water bodies with reclaimed water; stormwater; and any other water supply source that is designated as nontraditional for a water supply planning region in the applicable regional water supply plan. [Section 373.019(1), F.S.]
Regulatory Measures
The District addresses water conservation through regulatory measures by issuing permits with specific conditions to entities seeking Individual Water Use Permits (IWUPs). Where applicable, permits may include water conservation measures, such as per capita water use goals or requirements, limits on water losses, and the preparation and submittal of water conservation plans. The District has also designated Water Resource Caution Areas (WRCAs) for coastal Region II (Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties) and the Upper Telogia Creek basin (Gadsden County). In the WRCAs, conservation requirements are typically greater to ensure efficient water use.
Water Supply Planning
Every five years, the District conducts a districtwide Water Supply Assessment (WSA) to evaluate current and future water supplies for all seven planning regions. The WSA determines whether existing and future water sources and conservation efforts will be adequate to meet existing legal uses for current and future water demands while also sustaining water resources and natural systems for a 20-year planning period. If a WSA determines that a region has inadequate existing and/or anticipated water resources to meet future needs for the planning period, a Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP) must be developed. A RWSP evaluates current and future water demands and identified available resources, current and projected water supply projects, and alternative water supply projects necessary to meet projected demands and ensure sustainability of water resources.
Water conservation is addressed within both the WSA and RWSP. The amount of potential water savings through planned conservation projects such as utility programs and passive conservation associated with homeowner replacement of water fixtures over time are considered when evaluating each region’s current and future water needs. In regions with a RWSP, the conservation savings are estimated in the plan to meet the region’s water supply needs. For regions not under a RWSP, conservation savings can help mitigate or delay water supply infrastructure expansions.
Interagency Coordination
The District participates in the Inter-District Quarterly Conservation Meeting to discuss statewide water conservation initiatives, plans, and outreach with other water management districts. The District also coordinates with local governments and water utilities to evaluate and implement alternative water supply projects such as reuse systems, surface water sources, and storage projects. Additionally, the District works to advance water conservation strategies and projects with water utilities and local governments.
Technical Evaluations
The District completed an update to the Region II Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP) in December 2024 (2024 RII RWSP). The District also contracted with Hazen and Sawyer to identify the water conservation potential in Region II using the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) water conservation tracking tool. The AWE conservation tool identified 4.3 mgd of passive water conservation in Region II by 2045. Passive water conservation is the amount of water savings that will occur naturally as older fixtures and appliances are replaced by homeowners with newer higher water conserving models. Additionally, the tool also identified an additional 1.7 mgd (6.0 mgd total) of water conservation that could be achieved with local utility participation in appliance rebate programs.
Water Conservation Brochures
