In the wake of one of the worst droughts on record, Florida counties are working together to create a more sustainable water future.
The Central Florida Water Initiative, on Sept. 13th, approved a 20-year plan that includes Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and parts of Lake County.
As the population continues to grow, officials are seeking solutions that meet the increased demands. Those efforts include sourcing and treating brackish groundwater, capturing and treating stormwater, water conservation, and regional efforts. The population of these counties is projected to grow 40% from 3.4 million in 2020 to 4.7 million by 2045. Officials estimate fresh groundwater availability at about 760 million gallons per day. However, demand for fresh water will climb to 856 million gallons per day by 2045, leaving a shortfall of 96 million gallons per day.
Polk County broke ground on a water treatment plant projected to serve 11 municipalities and it is expected to be completed in the Fall of 2028. It is a reverse osmosis plant that will tap into the Lower Florida Aquifer to treat fresh water.
Water Recycling Treatment Solutions
Officials in Central Florida, such as Polk County, are utilizing techniques such as wastewater treatment to ease the demand on the Florida aquifer to generate fresh water. When the aquifer is overdrawn, sinkholes form and springs suffer. Called the “One Water” approach, it acknowledges the interconnectedness of the water supply.
Another alternative water source includes stormwater capture projects such as the Toho Reservoir in Osceola County.
An $85 million project, it treats stormwater to be used as irrigation water. It holds more than 600 million gallons of water and can treat almost 6 million gallons of water a day. Neighbors in Tampa Bay recently approved an $80 million wastewater project, part of the city’s PIPES (progressive infrastructure plan to ensure sustainability) program. The $2.9 billion funding plan aims to renovate the area’s 100-year-old water infrastructure.
