Carol Ann
Wehle
Highlands Today
Published:
May 8, 2008
A prolonged and widespread
water shortage can hardly be described as a lucky break. The
impacts of below-average rainfall that began in 2006 have
been at times severe on South Florida's residents,
businesses and local municipalities — not to mention our
lawns.
But even without rain clouds,
there is a silver lining. Floridians are paying close
attention to water conservation, perhaps more than any time
in recent memory. Because of emergency restrictions imposed
on outdoor irrigation, we are learning that yards and
gardens can survive with less water, that drought-tolerant
plants are easy to maintain and that mulch not only holds in
moisture, it also cuts down on weeds.
And while irrigation
restrictions do not apply to indoor water use, a
conservation mindset is taking a hold inside, too. We are
discovering that turning off the faucet for teeth brushing
is not a hardship, that fixing leaky fixtures makes economic
sense and that doing full loads of laundry makes
housekeeping a little easier. Our residents have
demonstrated their willingness to reduce water use during
times of adversity. But, should it all go down the drain
when the water shortage is over? Hardly. The ongoing
rainfall deficit has presented an opportunity to change
Florida's future.
With unprecedented awareness
about the availability of regional water supplies, we have a
chance to reshape our culture toward one of year-round
conservation. Our communities are ready. They care about
doing the right thing, about not wasting resources and about
protecting water for the environment. And they expect sound
decision making for our future.
That is where the South
Florida Water Management District's proposal for a
comprehensive and lasting water conservation program fits
in. Developed during the past five months with input from
several dozen stakeholders — including utilities, nursery
associations, municipalities, agriculture, developers and
environmental interests — the program describes the rules,
incentives and education strategies necessary for an
enduring culture of conservation.
A key component of the
comprehensive program took a step forward last week with the
first in a series of public workshops to gain input on a
rule that would permanently limit landscape irrigation in
South Florida. With outdoor irrigation accounting for up to
50 percent of our water use, watering wisely represents the
most effective and immediate way of achieving a lasting
reduction in household water use. Under normal conditions,
South Florida's average water use exceeds 170 gallons per
person each day; through a two-day-a-week watering schedule,
the District estimates that more than 125 million gallons
can be saved daily (as recently evidenced by Phase II
emergency water shortage restrictions).
The year-round landscape
irrigation rule would limit watering throughout the District
to two days per week, determined by street address, and
prohibit all watering during mid-day hours (10 a.m. – 4
p.m.) when air temperatures are warmest and irrigation
efficiency is lowest. Some municipalities in South Florida
have already implemented such a schedule with real success.
Their local actions demonstrate that our yards can thrive
with less irrigation.
Similar to the emergency
restrictions currently in place, the year-round proposal
would continue to allow hand watering and other types of
low-volume irrigation and provide expanded watering days for
new plantings. Likewise, it would not regulate car washing,
boat rinsing, power-washing or other non-landscape use,
although voluntary conservation will always be strongly
encouraged.
One element of the rule,
which would have subjected the residential and commercial
use of reclaimed water to the same two-day watering
restrictions, drew considerable and understandable concern
from our stakeholders. We are listening to our constituents'
concerns about curbing reclaimed water use and recognize
that, with limited storage within our boundaries, its
application may provide more benefits for the environment
than disposal. Allowing more days for irrigation with
reclaimed water may also create an incentive for its
expansion in our southeast counties, where the capacity to
reuse water is as high as 50 percent in some areas but as
low as 5 percent in others.
As we continue to work
together to develop other alternative water supplies,
however, we must remain mindful that all resources are
finite. Taking a conservative approach with alternative
supplies like the Floridian aquifer can provide for
long-term solutions without creating new problems in our
future.
These year-round landscape
irrigation measures, in line with guidelines being
considered by our neighboring water management districts in
southwest and northeast Florida, aim to both save water and
bring uniformity and predictability to residents and
businesses throughout the most populous areas of Florida.
An adjustment to year-round
conservation measures may challenge those who relied too
long on the assumption that our water is available in
endless supply. The drought vividly reminded us that it is
not, and it also reminds us that it is time to make real and
lasting changes for South Florida. We are building momentum
toward a statewide ethic of water conservation - one that
should serve as a model for the nation.
Carol Ann Wehle is executive
director of the South Florida Water Management District.