Water Supply Assessments

As required by Florida law (section 373.036, Florida Statutes), the Northwest Florida Water Management District develops Water Supply Assessments (WSAs) to provide a regional evaluation of water supply sources and projections of future demands for the 16 counties of northwest Florida. Water demand projections are provided for the following use categories: public supply, domestic self-supply, agriculture, recreational irrigation, industrial / commercial / institutional (ICI) self-supply, and thermoelectric power generation.

Water Supply Assessments help the District efficiently and effectively meet the future needs of the citizens of northwest Florida, while sustaining our natural resources and the environment. The information included in each WSA update should aid in developing future utility infrastructure plans and in meeting the water supply planning requirements of local comprehensive plans.

To better evaluate and plan for our long-term water supply needs, the District is committed to coordinating our efforts with local governments, utilities, self-suppliers, other stakeholders and the public.

2023 Water Supply Assessment Update

The 2023 Water Supply Assessment Update, which extends water demand projections through 2045, is now available here:

2023 Water Supply Assessment

2023 Water Supply Assessment Appendices

2023 Water Supply Assessment – Notice of Rights

Public Workshops

Three public workshops were conducted as follows. Each workshop included an overview of water use projections and conditions across northwest Florida, with emphasis on the counties indicated.

July 24, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., Central. Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Boulevard, Building 400, Room 302, Niceville, FL 32578. Emphasis on Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.

July 25, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., Central. Bay County Government Center, 840 W. 11th Street, Commission Chambers, Panama City, FL 32401. Emphasis on Bay, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Calhoun, Liberty, Gulf, and Franklin counties.

July 26, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., Eastern. Northwest Florida Water Management District Headquarters, 81 Water Management Drive, Governing Board Room, Havana, FL 32333. Emphasis on Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, and Jefferson counties.

Technical Workshops

Two technical workshops were conducted as follows. Each workshop included an overview of water use projections and conditions across northwest Florida, with emphasis on the counties indicated.

July 24, 2023, at 2:00 pm, Central. Northwest Florida State College, 100 College Boulevard, Building 400, Room 302, Niceville, FL 32578. Emphasis on Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.

July 26, 2023, at 2:00 pm, Eastern. Northwest Florida Water Management District Headquarters, 81 Water Management Drive, Governing Board Room, Havana, FL 32333. Emphasis on Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, and Jefferson counties.

For additional information, please contact: Kathleen Coates at Kathleen.Coates@nwfwater.com or (850) 539-5999.

2018 Water Supply Assessment Update

The 2018 Water Supply Assessment Update, which extended the water demand projections through 2040, was presented at the District’s Governing Board meeting on December 13, 2018. Pursuant to Section 373.709, Florida Statutes, and based on the findings of the 2018 WSA, the Governing Board determined:

1. The regional water supply plan (RWSP) for Region II (Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties) shall be continued;
2. The RWSP for Region III (Bay County) shall be discontinued; and
3. No new RWSPs are required.

Water Supply Assessment Archives

2013 Water Supply Assessment

During its February 2014 meeting, the District’s Governing Board determined that the Region II and Region III Regional Water Supply Plans (RWSPs) should continue, that the Region V RWSP should be discontinued, and that no new regional water supply plans were needed in the Northwest Florida Water Management District. The water demand projections were updated to 2035.

2008 Water Supply Assessment Update

The District’s Governing Board approved the Water Supply Assessment Update on May 28, 2009.

2003 Water Supply Projections Report

The District’s Governing Board approved the Water Supply Assessment Update on June 12, 2003.

1998 Water Supply Assessment

The 1998 Water Supply Assessment provided the first comprehensive assessment of water supply needs and sources for the Northwest Florida Water Management District. This assessment provides estimates of 1995 water use and water use projections for the 2000-2020 planning period.  Detailed regional assessments of water resource availability were also prepared to evaluate the need for regional water supply planning. The 1998 WSA concluded that water supply planning was only needed in Region II (Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton Counties).