LWDD Proposes Sale of Development Rights to Fund Critical Flood Control and Water Supply Projects
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Reduce Your Water Use
It is estimated that lawn and landscape irrigation accounts for more than half of all residential water use. This is the same water that we drink, feeds our wetlands, and fills our community ponds.
A recent study found that homeowners can reduce their water consumption by over 30% by simply readjusting the automatic irrigation system on a regular basis. The lesson here is don’t just set it and forget it. Pay close attention to the weather and rainfall patterns and frequently adjust your irrigation timers accordingly. Often, rainfall can provide all the water that your lawn and plants need. Also, carefully inspect and adjust your spray-heads on a regular basis, making sure that your sprinklers are not also watering the sidewalk, driveway, or street.
The type of plants and grasses that we use in our landscaping can be another reason for wasteful watering practices. By gradually expanding beds with low-maintenance, native plants, and reducing the size of our lawns, we can eventually save a tremendous amount of time, money, and water. The rule here is “right plant, right place.” Pick the plants that are the most appropriate for the specific conditions of your yard (sun or shade, moist or dry soil, etc.) and will require the least amount of water and fertilizer.
We also often apply much more water than our plants and grass really need to remain healthy. Over-watering can result in a shallow root system, making your lawn less drought-tolerant and more susceptible to weed growth, disease, fungus, and insects. Irrigate only when your lawn shows signs of stress from lack of water such as when the leaf blades begin to fold in half, the lawn turns a bluish-gray color, or footprints linger.
If you have an automatic irrigation system, consider installing a soil moisture sensor. These inexpensive devices can cut your sprinkler system water usage by more than half by continuously checking soil moisture levels and preventing your sprinklers from operating when watering is not needed.
Finally, consider installing a rain barrel to conserve water and prevent runoff that can wash fertilizers and chemicals down storm drains and into our canals and other waterways. By working together to use water more efficiently, we can save money, conserve our groundwater resources, and protect this precious resource.
LWDD Water Conservation Tools
South Florida is fortunate to receive over 50 inches of rainfall a year on average. Most of that amount is concentrated during the six-month rainy season (May-October). While much of the runoff from these rains is discharged to the ocean to avoid flooding, a significant amount soaks into the ground and recharges the freshwater aquifers that supply our drinking water wellfields, ponds, and wetlands.
For the large population to live safely in south Florida, a regional water management system is required that must balance the water supply and flood control needs for both urban and agricultural users. Without adequate drainage, human health and safety would be jeopardized and extensive property damage could occur. Similarly, if regional groundwater levels were not properly maintained, wellfields would be unable to deliver water to homes and businesses and the underground inland migration of saltwater from the ocean could permanently contaminate the drinking water supply. The Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) helps mitigate some of the water supply issues our region experiences.
LWDD’s large network of canals play a critical role in conservation by maintaining groundwater levels which in turn supports the water levels in lakes, ponds, and wetlands across the region. During dry periods, groundwater levels tend to slowly fall in response to low rainfall and high evaporation. When this occurs, water managers in the region look to large regional storage areas like the Water Conservation Areas in the Everglades or to Lake Okeechobee as a source of supplemental water. Water from these sources is released into the canal network to raise the level of the water in the canals. This water, in turn, seeps through the sandy soils to recharge groundwater and return the water table to its normal elevation, thus helping to protect wellfields.
A recent water conservation enhancement for LWDD is the installation of SCADA, an acronym for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. The SCADA system automates the operation of water control gates and pumps throughout the 200 square miles of LWDD’s service boundary. The system links 11 of LWDD’s most critical water control structures to wireless, hurricane hardened communication system that automates the remote operation of the gates and pumps. If water rises too fast, the gates will automatically open. Similarly, if levels are too low, water supply pumps will activate to restore normal water levels in canals. The SCADA system provides enhanced operation and management of drainage canals. Avoiding discharges to the ocean when possible and maintaining canals at appropriate elevations is an important water conservation role LWDD contributes to in Palm Beach County.
Drought: A Silent Disaster
In a state that receives approximately 58 inches of rainfall a year, it may seem irrelevant to discuss drought. However, droughts are a part of south Florida’s climate just like hurricanes, thunderstorms and tornadoes. But unlike these weather hazards that effect our state, droughts usually occur slowly and are often unrecognized by the average citizen until conditions become extreme.
Unlike a storm where street flooding is immediately visible, a drought can be a silent disaster often going unnoticed. Usually, the first indication to the general public that something is wrong occurs when the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) imposes water restrictions to force the conservation of the resource. Water restrictions usually last for a few months without adverse impacts. However, a prolonged period of drought can have disastrous effects, most importantly on public safety.
During major droughts, one management tool used to control water consumption is the reduction in water pressure in distribution lines. The reduction in pressure will reduce the flow, and over time, will result in less water usage. Although a nuisance to residential and commercial users, it can be an effective management tool. However, this can place an undue burden on fire protection systems in general, and more specifically, increase the risk of fire in high-rise buildings that rely on normal system pressures to operate effectively at higher elevations.
The complete termination of public utility water system services has never occurred in south Florida due to a prolonged drought. But it is not inconceivable that if drought conditions are severe enough, water may not be available at any pressure to continue normal water delivery. Line pressures could approach zero, essentially terminating the delivery of water to homes and businesses, as well as requiring extensive decontamination efforts when water pressures are restored.
The safety consideration of severe long-term drought cannot be understated. Florida suffered its worst drought in recent history from 1998-2002. The state received little rainfall during these years. Many of the state’s water basins and streams began to go dry making it near impossible for the underground aquifers to recharge. Because of the extremely dry conditions, much of the state also suffered from wildfires and an estimated 1.5 million acres of land were destroyed.
In the future, the mitigation of drought impacts demands that Federal, state and local entities work together so regulations can be more flexible in order to deal with a drought crisis. Water Managers should continue planning and developing new water storage areas and reservoirs to increase water supply availability. Finally, individuals must incorporate water conservation practices into their daily habits in order to significantly reduce the burden on already limited water supply. More information on drought management and water conservation can be found at the SFWMD website (Link: www.SFWMD.gov).
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