National Water Quality Month is celebrated in August every year to highlight the importance of water conservation.
According to field monitoring data compiled by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, farmers and ranchers across the state conserve up to 7.5 billion gallons of water each year.
Florida growers use Best Management Practices (BMPs) on their farms and ranches to improve water quality while also growing what we eat, wear and use.
An example of BMPs in action include efficiently using irrigation systems and utilizing soil moisture probes to help conserve water and minimize the leaching of nutrients into groundwater. Another example is the use of natural filtration systems and water recharge areas provided by pastures and wetlands. These areas filter out sediments and nutrients that would otherwise go into our water supply.
As a consumer, we can help protect the quality of our water supply. A few ways the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests include composting food scraps instead of using a garbage disposal, turning off water while brushing teeth and shaving, installing a drip-irrigation water system for valuable plants and running your washing machine with a full load of clothes instead of partial loads.
For more tips visit the EPA’s website.
