U.S. Water News Online
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- As a way to cut back on water use, one day Floridians who sell their homes could be required to first upgrade them with low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, and other plumbing fixtures that save water.
The proposal was among several dozen discussed by business, government, and agriculture leaders at the second meeting of the Water Conservation Initiative workshop.
The task force's goal is to find ways business owners and private citizens can save water and take better care of the supply. It's part of the Drought Action Plan, proposed by Gov. Jeb Bush in February, to develop strategies to deal with the effects of the longlasting drought.
Recent rains in Florida have eased three years of dry conditions, but the groundwater supply remains below normal in central and southwest Florida. South Florida's Lake Okeechobee, the primary water source for surrounding farms and towns, is 2 feet below normal.
Water-use restrictions which limit lawn watering and car washing remain in effect throughout much of the peninsula.
``There's more demand than there is supply,'' said Jim Duncan, a senior engineer with Hillsborough County's water department.
The task force is studying conservation methods that would reduce the need for expensive desalinization and reverse osmosis plants that increase the cost of water.
``If you can make that groundwater supply last longer, the overall costs are lower for the consumers,'' said Jay Yingling, a senior economist with the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
Florida is projected to increase its water use by 23 percent from 1995 to 2020, or from 7.2 billions of gallons per day to 9.4 billions of gallons per day, the state Department of Environmental Protection reports.
The agency will release the task force's draft proposals in November, with the final report due in February.
Other suggestions include:
``What we're not after is making people do without,'' said Janet Llewellyn, deputy director of DEP's division of water resource management. ``What we're doing is trying to find ways to use water smarter with technology.''
Several of the suggestions have already been implemented at the local level.
For example, Melbourne residents have received a $50 rebate from the city since 1996 to replace their toilets with newer ones that use less water. So far, 500 toilets have been installed that save an estimated 5 million gallons of water per year, said Jennifer Wilster, the city's conservation officer.
The task force recommendations could be implemented through legislative or local government action, statutory changes or incentive programs, Llewellyn said.
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