APWA - South Florida Chapter - Water Restrictions

Accordingly, in 2007 the SFWMD adopted the Regional Water Availability Rule (RWAR). This rule is the most significant water regulation adopted in the State of Florida, as it essentially caps all future water allocations from the Biscayne Aquifer. The Rule established a limit on Biscayne Aquifer water allocation based on the greatest average water usage during any 12-month period prior to April of 2006. The amount corresponding to this 12-month average is referred to as the base condition, which is the maximum amount of water that will be set aside with no further increases in the future. Therefore, any water required beyond the quantity established as the base condition would need to come from alternative water supplies and not the Biscayne Aquifer.

Linking Growth to Water Supplies

In addition to the adoption of the RWAR, the SFWMD also adopted the 2006-2007 Lower East Coast Regional Plan (LECRWSP). For each community water system, the plan provides population projections through the year 2025 and the corresponding water supply needs for two planning horizons, 2015 and 2025. For each community within the SFWMD jurisdiction, the LECRWSP identified water needed to meet the demands for each planning period beyond the base condition. Each community was then tasked with identifying alternative water supply projects proposed to make up the difference between the base condition and the water demand for each planning horizon. However, the water supply planning process did not stop with the LECRWSP. The State saw the need to create a concurrency tool that would tie growth to water supplies based on the LECRWSP projections. Accordingly, every city would need to update their Comprehensive Plans and include a water supply element which would essentially show how each city would meet their water supply needs in the future. The water supply element of the Comprehensive Plan would need to delineate specific water supply projects required to meet water needs in the future, but also show the source of funding that will be utilized to subsidize the project. The financial requirement is an important aspect of the water supply element, in that funding availability is now linked to water concurrency. In other words, concurrency may be denied if funding is not identified to support the water supply project required to support proposed land use amendments. The water supply elements will need to be submitted to the Department of Community Affairs in the summer of 2008.

Alternative Water Supply Projects

Among the alternative water supply projects identified in the plan were low pressure reverse osmosis plants for treatment of Floridian aquifer water and a variety of water reuse projects. Given the uncertainties regarding the sustainability of the Floridian aquifer, the SFWMD is encouraging the development of reuse projects to meet future water needs. The use of conventional reuse for irrigation is perhaps the least expensive option to leverage reuse. However, while irrigation reuse reduces the per capita water demand for a community, it does not provide an increase in water allocation. Instead the SFWMD encourages reuse applications that have the potential of increasing the water available in the Biscayne aquifer thus allowing an increase in allocation such as groundwater and canal recharge. These type of projects provide an “offset” that allow the withdrawal of additional water from the Biscayne aquifer.

The development of alternative water supply projects will require significant capital investment by utilities in South Florida. Historically, utilities have relied on capacity built from impact fees imposed on developers. However, in most cases we find that the impact fee structure in place in many utilities may be adequate to support capacity from water coming from the Biscayne aquifer, but insufficient to subsidize alternative water supply projects. Accordingly, many utilities will have to adjust their rates and fees to be able to afford the construction of alternative water supply projects. It should be noted that funding for alternative water supply projects has been made available through the SFWMD Alternative Water Supply Program. However, this source of funding is extremely competitive and insufficient to support all of the region’s alternative water supply projects. Many of the recent polices and regulations adopted by the State place emphasis on the critical role that water plays on the region’s ability to support growth. The development of alternative water supplies will certainly place a higher price tag on future development activities. In the past, water availability did not play such a crucial role in the determination of land use activities and/or permit issuance. However, local governments must now be prepared to make some difficult decisions that will inevitably shape the future of South Florida.

		WATER SUPPLY By Albert Perez, Utilities Director City of Hollywood, Fl. Accordingly, in 2007 the SFWMD adopted the Regional Water Availability Rule (RWAR). This rule is the most significant water regulation adopted in the State of Florida, as it essentially caps all future water allocations from the Biscayne Aquifer. The Rule established a limit on Biscayne Aquifer water allocation based on the greatest average water usage during any 12-month period prior to April of 2006. The amount corresponding to this 12-month average is referred to as the base condition, which is the maximum amount of water that will be set aside with no further increases in the future. Therefore, any water required beyond the quantity established as the base condition would need to come from alternative water supplies and not the Biscayne Aquifer. Linking Growth to Water Supplies In addition to the adoption of the RWAR, the SFWMD also adopted the 2006-2007 Lower East Coast Regional Plan (LECRWSP). For each community water system, the plan provides population projections through the year 2025 and the corresponding water supply needs for two planning horizons, 2015 and 2025. For each community within the SFWMD jurisdiction, the LECRWSP identified water needed to meet the demands for each planning period beyond the base condition. Each community was then tasked with identifying alternative water supply projects proposed to make up the difference between the base condition and the water demand for each planning horizon. However, the water supply planning process did not stop with the LECRWSP. The State saw the need to create a concurrency tool that would tie growth to water supplies based on the LECRWSP projections. Accordingly, every city would need to update their Comprehensive Plans and include a water supply element which would essentially show how each city would meet their water supply needs in the future. The water supply element of the Comprehensive Plan would need to delineate specific water supply projects required to meet water needs in the future, but also show the source of funding that will be utilized to subsidize the project. The financial requirement is an important aspect of the water supply element, in that funding availability is now linked to water concurrency. In other words, concurrency may be denied if funding is not identified to support the water supply project required to support proposed land use amendments. The water supply elements will need to be submitted to the Department of Community Affairs in the summer of 2008. Alternative Water Supply Projects Among the alternative water supply projects identified in the plan were low pressure reverse osmosis plants for treatment of Floridian aquifer water and a variety of water reuse projects. Given the uncertainties regarding the sustainability of the Floridian aquifer, the SFWMD is encouraging the development of reuse projects to meet future water needs. The use of conventional reuse for irrigation is perhaps the least expensive option to leverage reuse. However, while irrigation reuse reduces the per capita water demand for a community, it does not provide an increase in water allocation. Instead the SFWMD encourages reuse applications that have the potential of increasing the water available in the Biscayne aquifer thus allowing an increase in allocation such as groundwater and canal recharge. These type of projects provide an “offset” that allow the withdrawal of additional water from the Biscayne aquifer. The development of alternative water supply projects will require significant capital investment by utilities in South Florida. Historically, utilities have relied on capacity built from impact fees imposed on developers. However, in most cases we find that the impact fee structure in place in many utilities may be adequate to support capacity from water coming from the Biscayne aquifer, but insufficient to subsidize alternative water supply projects. Accordingly, many utilities will have to adjust their rates and fees to be able to afford the construction of alternative water supply projects. It should be noted that funding for alternative water supply projects has been made available through the SFWMD Alternative Water Supply Program. However, this source of funding is extremely competitive and insufficient to support all of the region’s alternative water supply projects. Many of the recent polices and regulations adopted by the State place emphasis on the critical role that water plays on the region’s ability to support growth. The development of alternative water supplies will certainly place a higher price tag on future development activities. In the past, water availability did not play such a crucial role in the determination of land use activities and/or permit issuance. However, local governments must now be prepared to make some difficult decisions that will inevitably shape the future of South Florida.






			Contact Information: APWA-S. Florida Branch Mailing Address: 16241 S.W. 288 Street Homestead, FL 33033 Phone: 305.460.5039 Fax: 305.460.5082 Email: dcbrown@coralgables.com