Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Report-February 2008

Reclaimed Water Task Force Recommendations

In July 2006, presentations regarding the Southern Water Use Caution Area Recovery Strategy brought about several concerns pertaining to the use of reclaimed water. The concerns included:

• The perception that reclaimed water was being reallocated or priced such that some existing users were losing their ability to use it.
• When the above concern occurred, a limited number of users were not able to return to ground water because its quality had deteriorated. In such cases was the District obligated in any way to assist the users?
• What can be done to significantly increase the use of reclaimed water?

In September 2006, the Governing Board initiated a Reclaimed Water Task Force and members were selected from the District’s advisory committees. During 2007, the Reclaimed Water Task Force had made 16 recommendations to the Governing Board. At the October 2007 board meeting, 14 of the 16 recommendations were approved. The final two recommendations were tabled to allow board members to gain more information and address concerns that were raised by District staff and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

At the February 2008, Governing Board meeting, the final two recommendations were approved. The recommendations were:

#2) Encourage Distribution Systems in New Developments
To facilitate the use of reclaimed water in new residential developments, reclaimed water distribution systems should be installed during the construction of the development, if reclaimed water will be available to the development within the five years as indicated in a capital improvement plan, and if there is no other alternative water sources identified by the developer.

#10) Definition of the “Economically Feasible” Requirement for Reclaimed Water in Water Use Permitting
The District’s existing rules require Water Use Permit (WUP) applicants to use reclaimed water if it is economically, technically and environmentally feasible. Economic feasibility is determined by using the full costs and benefits of reclaimed water versus traditional water supply. However, the current WUP rules do not indicate a specific threshold as to when it is feasible. The Reclaimed Water Task Force recommended that if the cost to the user is more than the existing cost of water, then using reclaimed water would not be considered feasible.

The Governing Board authorized staff to initiate rulemaking to amend Chapter 40D-2, Florida Administrative Code, to incorporate the implementation of the recommendation.

Criteria for 20-Year Water Use Permits for Long-Term Projects

On March 14, 2008, the District held a rule development workshop regarding criteria for 20-year WUPs. The workshop was tailored to the development industry as the proposed rule requires projects to have an Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) and a WUP. New language proposed includes allowances for a Conceptual Environmental Resource Permit to fulfill the completed ERP requirement. Also, 75% of supplemental irrigation demands must be met through Alternative Water Supplies (AWS). The 75% AWS can be met through-out the project’s duration, since many projects meeting these criteria will be multi-phased and long-term. Five-year compliance reports would be a condition of the 20-year permits. Currently there is a discussion between the three big water management districts on whether five-year reviews open up permits to challenges.

Concerning agricultural permits, the District will hold another rule development workshop during April/May to discuss 20-year permits as an incentive for the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Programs. The District’s direction is projects that meet multiple resource objectives such as reduced off-site discharge water quality impacts and reduced groundwater use would possibly receive 20-year permits.

District staff anticipates presenting public comment and the proposed rule to the Governing Board in June or July.

Water Shortage Actions

The District remains in a Phase II Severe Water Shortage for the entire sixteen county area. The most current rainfall data for the northern, central and southern regions of the District are reported below.

2008 Rainfall (in inches)

Farm Bureau Welcomes New Governing Board Member

Albert G. Joerger was appointed to the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board in February 2008. His term expires March 1, 2011.
Mr. Joerger was born in New haven, CT and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. He continued his education at Cornell and earned a master’s degree in landscape architecture and a doctorate degree in environmental information science with a minor in conservation and sustainable development.

In 2003, Joerger founded the Sarasota Conservation Foundation, which works with landowners and local governments to protect and preserve Sarasota County’s bays, beaches and barrier islands. Joerger serves as president of the Florida Alliance of Land Trusts and is a member of the Lemon Bay League. He has been recognized as one of Sarasota’s top “40 Under 40” by the Gulf Coast Business Review for his work in Sarasota, as well as an “environmental hero” by Sarasota Magazine.

Joerger will also serve as co-chair ex officio of the Manasota Basin Board.