Central Florida
   Water Initiative

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Recognizing the value of water

Why is water such an important issue?

Surrounded on three sides by seawater, Florida also has thousands of freshwater lakes, springs, streams and rivers. Water connects and supports our economy, our environment and our quality of life.

Although it may appear that there is plenty of water to go around, not all of that water is available for drinking or other uses. Plus, our state’s weather can swing quickly between heavy rainfall and drought.

Plentiful water supplies keep our homes and businesses humming along, and nature has what it needs to grow and thrive. Without a dependable source of water, jobs and business incomes suffer, our natural resources struggle to survive, and water shortages can mean changes in our daily lives. Having enough water to meet all of our needs is key to our future.

Where does our water come from?

We depend on rainfall to fill our lakes, rivers and canals and to soak down into our underground reservoirs, or aquifers (typically layers of sand, gravel and rock). While Florida generally receives 50 to 55 inches of rainfall each year, not all of the rain reaches the aquifer below.

About 37 inches evaporates back into the air or runs off the land into ponds, lakes or rivers. Some of the runoff water eventually drains to the ocean or bays. That leaves only about 13 inches of the total amount of rainfall that can slowly seep into the ground and “recharge” the aquifer.

What is the primary source of water for Central Florida?

Here in the central part of the state, the Floridan aquifer system is the main source of stored freshwater. This particular aquifer is mostly made up of limestone – a natural rock formation full of holes and cracks that act like a sponge to absorb and hold water.
A protective layer of clay sits above the aquifer and helps protect the water from contamination. Throughout our area, the quality of water in the aquifer is excellent.

In some locations, underground water pressure causes the water in the aquifer to rise up on its own, forming springs and free flowing wells. However, most water stays trapped underground and wells must be drilled to pump out water from the aquifer.

Uses and sources

Who uses the water?

In Central Florida, water pumped from the Floridan aquifer serves about 2.7 million residents and also supports a large tourist industry, major farming operations, and a growing business community. The population in some areas is projected to increase by almost 50 percent by the year 2035.

Water conservation by all water use categories will continue to be a priority to meet the CFWI Planning Area’s future water demands. It is projected that a total of 50 to 56 million gallons per day (mgd) could be achieved by 2040 for all water use categories.

What happens if we rely too much on one source?

Pumping too much groundwater from the aquifer changes the water pressure, which, in turn, draws water down from the land surface and draws salt water up (from even deeper aquifers) into the freshwater “zones” now tapped for our supplies.

This action can result in negative impacts both above and below ground: drying out valuable wetlands, reducing spring flows, lowering area lake levels, and turning previously freshwater sources to brackish (a mix of fresh and saltwater that requires more expensive processing) or completely salty and no longer useable.

Recognizing the need to look into other sources and options for the future, water supply planning helps us identify just how much water is needed in the next 20 years and how long we can expect to rely on the Floridan aquifer.

What are the benefits of regional water supply planning?

Florida’s five regional water management districts develop water supply plans to identify needs and recommend strategies for meeting future water demands of urban and agricultural uses, as well as the environment.

This process highlights areas where current sources of water will not be able to continue meeting future demands, and evaluates several water source options — including water conservation — to meet those demands. Required by state law, the plans are based on a 20-year outlook and must be updated every five years.

Each plan includes water use estimates and projections, an evaluation of existing sources, a discussion of issues and concerns, and recommendations.

A coordinated approach

What is the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI)?

The goal of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) is to protect, conserve and restore water resources in a 5,300 square-mile area. The CFWI Planning Area includes Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk and southern Lake counties — the counties where three water management districts have shared jurisdiction.

It is a joint effort by the water management districts (St. Johns River, South and Southwest Florida) to work closely with state agencies, utilities, environmental groups, business organizations, agricultural communities and other stakeholders to recognize and address the water needs of the future.

Why is there a need for coordination?

In 2016, the Florida legislature required the CFWI to establish consistent consumptive use permitting rules and regulations for the three water management districts to ensure the CFWI Planning Area’s current and future water needs are met while protecting the water resources and natural systems.

Subsequently, Chapter 62-41.300 through 62-41.305 of the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) and the CFWI Supplemental Applicant's Handbook became effective on Jan. 5, 2022 and apply to the three water management districts in the CFWI Planning Area.

What are the key challenges in the CFWI Planning Area?

Some of the key water management challenges being addressed by the CFWI include reaching sustainable groundwater limits and multiple demands on the area’s water resources.

What are the major issues? Will there be enough water in the future?

Total average water use in the CFWI Planning Area is projected to increase 36 percent from 667 mgd in 2015 to 908 mgd in 2040. Of this amount, groundwater represents 635 mgd and 855 mgd, respectively. Additional fresh groundwater withdrawals beyond 760 mgd are limited by water resource and natural system constraints. Based on the 2040 groundwater demand projections, the resulting groundwater shortfall is approximately 95 mgd.

However, there are sufficient project options for the development of water supplies in addition to water conservation and water conservation projects to meet the area’s needs through 2040. A total of 85 water supply and water resource development projects options could potentially provide 514 mgd of additional water supplies, exceeding the projected groundwater shortfall.

A plan of action

How does the CFWI Regional Water Supply Plan address the challenges?

To help guide Central Florida’s water future, the CFWI was created in 2011. The intent of the CFWI is to implement effective and consistent water resource planning, development, and management throughout the CFWI Planning Area. The first CFWI RWSP was approved by the three water management districts (Districts) Governing Boards in November 2015, and the 5-year update, the 2020 CFWI RWSP, was approved by the Districts Governing Boards in November 2020. Currently, the Districts are preparing the five-year update to the 2020 CFWI RWSP with an anticipated completion and District governing board approvals of the 2025 CFWI RWSP at the end of 2025. The RWSP documents identify water source options and potential projects to meet the expected increase in demands during the 20-year planning horizon. Implementing the projects requires both local and regional actions. The 2020 CFWI RWSP is available online at cfwiwater.com.

A total of 85 potential water supply projects — more than enough to meet the CFWI Planning Area’s projected groundwater shortfall of 95 mgd — were identified through the 2020 CFWI RWSP development process. In addition, 21 water conservation project options are not captured in this total.

The reality of future water supply concerns is not new. What is different now?

Several key items have been developed during the past two years to help us better understand and manage our long-term water resources. These include: a comprehensive groundwater model (a computer program that incorporates information on the CFWI region), a detailed evaluation of the springs, lakes and wetlands in the region, and the development of “measuring sticks” to compare them consistently.

In addition, a “solutions” team was formed to further investigate and recommend projects based on the draft Regional Water Supply Plan. Detailed evaluations were conducted on sixteen options. Based on that effort, a draft “2035 Water Resources Protection and Water Supply Strategies Plan” will be available for public review and comment in May 2015.

Where does reclaimed water fit into the picture?

Water reuse has been, and will continue to be, an important piece of the puzzle. Using water once and disposing of it is a wasteful practice when that water can be processed and “recycled” for another use.

Highly treated reclaimed water can be safely and effectively used to irrigate lawns and golf courses, support crop irrigation, serve as cooling water for industries, flush toilets, recharge ground water, and for environmental restoration.

While Central Florida has been a leader in the use of reclaimed water, some areas still use fresh, high-quality drinking water on lawns and landscapes. There is still more that can be developed for beneficial uses. The more we can reuse, the less we need to pump and treat from other sources.

What are other alternative water sources?

In addition to reclaimed water, other alternative sources identified in the 2020 CFWI RWSP to help meet future needs include:

• Brackish groundwater
• Storm water
• Surface water
• ASR
• Management Strategies

Water conservation and public involvement

How important is conservation in stretching our supplies?

Conservation is the least expensive way to help meet a portion of our future needs. Already proven to be an effective strategy, it is estimated that additional conservation could produce approximately 50 to 56 mgd as a starting point in future water savings.

Most utilities promote easy-to-follow conservation practices to encourage customers to participate. More efficient irrigation systems and advances in technology have also helped farmers reduce water demands over the past several years.

How can you help?

Achieving long-term water use reductions requires a combination of new technology, best business and management practices and behavior changes. Conservation is the best way to extend the life of our water supply, so it is important to practice conservation and do what is needed to encourage it.

Around your home you can save water, and money, by:

• Installing low-flow toilets and showerheads and fixing leaky faucets and toilets
• Setting clothes washers for the appropriate-sized load and using water-efficient machines

Saving water outdoors can have a major impact on extending our water supply.

• Follow the year-round watering limits and consider waterwise landscaping for your yard.
• You can have a beautiful landscape that conserves water by selecting the right plant for the right place, reducing large areas of irrigated grass, preserving existing vegetation and increasing the areas of shade in your landscape.
• If you have properly designed your landscape, chosen the proper plants and planted them correctly you will have a reduced need for irrigation.

How else can you get involved?

We need your involvement and support to make sure the regional planning process is a success. Public workshops and presentations are being held to inform and engage the public and interested stakeholders on the development of the 2025 CFWI Regional Water Supply Plan.

You may sign up to receive information about the CFWI via email. When the CFWI draft documents are available for public review, comments are welcome and encouraged. A dedicated website — cfwiwater.com — is the best source for more information.

Putting the pieces together

What are the next major steps?

Staff with the St. Johns River, South, and Southwest Florida water management districts (Districts) are in the process of preparing the five-year update to the 2020 CFWI RWSP. The draft 2025 CFWI RWSP is anticipated to be available for public review in early 2025. The final 2025 CFWI RWSP is scheduled to be approved by the governing boards of the Districts by the end of 2025.

Bottom line: Continued support will be needed to turn the plans into action

The future water demands of the CFWI Planning Area can be met through 2040 with appropriate management, the broadening of water sources, increased conservation, and alternative projects identified in the plan.

Implementing the projects and other measures will require commitment and actions from all levels of government and all variety of stakeholders, including the public. To help with project construction, all three water management districts provide cost-share funding opportunities (subject to annual budget approvals) for local projects that help protect and stretch water resources.