Lower West Coast Water Supply

The Lower West Coast Water Supply Plan (LWC WSP) is one of four long-term, comprehensive regional water supply plans that has been developed by the District. The 2000 LWC Water Supply Plan:

• documents existing as well as future (2020) agricultural and urban water demands;


• develops strategies to meet these needs, while providing adequate water to support the needs of the environment;


• identifies specific geographical areas that have water resource problems that are critical or are anticipated to become critical by the year 2020. For these critical areas, remedial or preventative measures will be identified, including water resource development projects, water supply development projects, and operational and regulatory strategies;


• establishes a framework around which future water use decisions in the planning region can take place;


• identifies areas where collection of resource data and technical studies are necessary; and,


• implements the plan recommendations through regulatory, research, planning, construction, operational, land management and acquisition actions.

This plan will be updated every five years.

Three documents comprise the 2000 LWC Plan. These documents provide a common set of data such as present and future water demands, assumptions, and potential water source options. The LWC Plan will be used by local governments, water users, and utilities to modify and update their local comprehensive plans, ordinances, and individual or utility plans.

A Water Supply Plan was also completed for this region in February 1994. This plan had a planning horizon of 2010.

Water Shortage Restrictions
Get the latest information

Effective September 26, residents in most areas will be allowed to water two-days-a-week, if needed. Improved conditions prompted the modified mandatory water use restrictions. more >

ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY: - funding assistance for utilities, commodity groups, permit holders and others.

WATER SAVINGS INCENTIVE PROGRAM (SIP): Get Grant Application (You will need to register from this link).

Vision

Florida shall assure the availability of an adequate supply of water for all competing uses deemed reasonable and beneficial and shall maintain the functions of natural systems and the overall present level of surface and ground water quality. Florida shall improve and restore the quality of waters not presently meeting water quality standards (Chapter 187, Florida Statutes).

Goal

Identify sufficient sources of water and funding, to meet the needs of all reasonable-beneficial uses, within the LWC Planning Area, through the year 2020, during a drought event that has the probability of occurring no more frequently than once every ten years, while sustaining the water resources and related natural systems.

Objectives

• Water Sources: Identify and ensure sustainable and efficient use of water resources sufficient to meet future demands.


• Natural Systems Protection: Protect natural resources from harm due to water use.


• Level of Certainty: Establish a 1-in-10 level of certainty for all existing and proposed legal water uses and the environment.


• Compatibility with Local Governments: Promote compatibility and linkage between the LWC Plan and local land use decisions and policies

• Lower West Coast