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LWDD Water Conservation Tools

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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.

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Water Conservation Tips

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Fire truck at apartment building

Drought: A Silent Disaster

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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).

Lake Okeechobee Drought 2007

Lake Okeechobee Water Management

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At its meeting on April 19, 2019, the LWDD Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted Resolution 19-04 urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to consider the importance of protecting Palm Beach County’s water supply in the development of a new Lake Okeechobee regulation schedule.

Lake Okeechobee is part of an integrated regional water management system essential to communities, businesses, public water supply utilities and ecosystems throughout Palm Beach County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) manages Lake Okeechobee water levels. The USACE is in the process of developing a new Lake Okeechobee water level regulation schedule called the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) which will define the parameters for future management of Lake Okeechobee.

The LWDD is highly dependent on Lake Okeechobee as a source of water supply, especially during times of water shortages. As the new LOSOM is developed, LWDD urges the USACE and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to favor operational alternatives that maximize health, safety, and welfare of the water-use community. The future operational design for Lake Okeechobee should include changes that minimize the potential for short-term water supply shortages, and protect the existing permitted water allocations, which will assure the predictability of a continued and reliable source that is essential to water supply planning on local and regional levels.

The LWDD recognizes that water supply is but one of the significant public health, safety and welfare concerns that must be weighed by the USACE and SFWMD in the development of LOSOM. These include the environmental health of the Lake, the health of flora and fauna which make Lake Okeechobee home, the health of the Everglades, the health of the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries, and the integrity of the Herbert Hoover Dike and safety of surrounding communities.

The Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) provides flood control and water supply for more than 800,000 residents and more than 10,000 acres of agricultural land in Palm Beach County. The LWDD service area encompasses 218 square miles, with 13 municipalities and 511 miles of drainage canals. Additionally, LWDD water control activities provide aquifer recharge to prevent saltwater intrusion for numerous major wellfields.

A copy of the resolution can be found at LWDD Resolution 19-04.