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May 10, 2018
Governing Board Declares Water Reuse Week May 13-19
SFWMD Board initiatives have helped nearly triple the use of reclaimed water to ensure future water supply
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| Purple pipes like these have become the hallmark of the increasing utilization of reuse water in South Florida. The SFWMD Governing Board, champions of water conservation and reuse, declared May 13-19 Water Reuse Week. Click on the image to see a larger version. |
Marathon, FL
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The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today declared May 13-19, 2018 as Water Reuse Week in Florida. The resolution urges local governments, utilities and businesses to implement water reuse programs to help protect future water supply of 8.1 million South Florida residents.
As part of the annual recognition of Water Reuse Week, SFWMD Governing Board Member Clarke Harlow passed the ceremonial purple
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Click on the image to see a larger version showing the ceremonial Purple Jacket commemorating Water Reuse Week being passed from SFWMD Governing Board Member Clarke Harlow (right) to Governing Board Chairman Federico Fernandez. |
jacket, an honor bestowed on one Governing Board Member each year to recognize their support for water reuse, to SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Federico Fernandez.
"This Governing Board firmly believes that water reuse is a cornerstone of our region's water supply strategy," said Fernandez. "With the successes of water reuse on full display around South Florida, agencies, utilities and citizens should be encouraged to reuse and conserve as much water as possible."
Water reclamation facilities in our communities receive wastewater from homes and businesses, treating it until it achieves high quality standards. Next this water is sent through purple pipes for irrigation of residential lots, golf courses and other green space, industrial uses, groundwater recharge and other beneficial purposes. The SFWMD Governing Board continues to partner with utilities to expand their water reuse capabilities.
The amount of water reuse District-wide has increased dramatically from approximately 100 million gallons per day in 1994 to 275 million gallons
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Installation of reclaimed water pipelines at Hawk's Cay Village and Resort. Click on the image to see a larger version. |
per day in 2016. In some areas like Orange, Polk and Osceola counties, as well as the Lower West Coast, close to 100 percent of the wastewater generated is reuse while the treatment and reuse of wastewater in the Florida Keys continues to increase.
In the Florida Keys, SFWMD assisted the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA), the sole provider of potable water for the Florida Keys, fund the installation of several miles of water reuse pipelines in the Hawk's Cay Village and Resort on Duck Key.
Duck Key is a small island community located at approximately Mile Marker 60 along the Overseas Highway. The Duck Key Wastewater Treatment Facility provides reclaimed water to the Hawks Cay Resort and Village. The facility was upgraded to provide additional treatment, and with financial support from the SFWMD, a reclaimed water pipeline was installed to bring reclaimed water to approximately 100 residences for irrigation.
Other major projects to increase water reuse that received grants from SFWMD Governing Board include the Toho Water Authority, which provides about 26 million gallons of reclaimed water per day for irrigation and aquifer recharge in Osceola and Polk counties. Additional reuse project locations include the City of Cape Coral that reuses over 25 million gallons of reclaimed water and excess stormwater for irrigation in the City, and the City of Pompano Beach for an expanding reuse system which currently reuses 2.4 million gallons per day for irrigation in the City and adjoining coastal communities.
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The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our mission is to protect South Florida's water resources by balancing and improving flood control, water supply, water quality and natural systems.
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