Planning for the region’s future water needs is a key component of the South Florida Water Management District’s (District) public service mission.
DID YOU KNOW: On average, more than 3.5 billion gallons of water are used every day in South Florida for watering our lawns, drinking, bathing, growing crops, and servicing industries.
PLANNING FOR FUTURE NEEDS: As demand for our traditional groundwater and surface water sources grows, the District continues to work to ensure there are sufficient water supplies to meet the needs of more than 9 million residents, millions of visitors and the environment.
WATER SUPPLY PLANNING: Our team of scientists, engineers, water managers, and many other employees proactively develop long-term water supply plans that monitor, evaluate and identify water sources and projects to meet future water needs throughout the District’s 16-county region.
By following water conservation measures, developing alternative water supplies, and implementing long-term water supply plans, we can diversify our water supply, more efficiently use limited water resources and create a sustainable water supply for future generations.
ASSESSING FUTURE WATER DEMANDS: The District works with its partners, stakeholders, and members of the public to develop regional water supply plans for five planning areas encompassing the District.
Each plan evaluates current and future water demands and identifies water sources for all of our region’s needs while protecting water resources and the environment. Water supply plans look at least 20 years into the future and are updated every five years to stay current with growth trends.
The five distinct regional water supply planning areas include:
📍 Upper Kissimmee Basin: Includes portions of Orange, Osceola and Polk counties and is within the boundaries of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), where the South Florida, St. Johns River and Southwest Florida water management districts collaboratively develop a plan for the region.
📍 Lower Kissimmee Basin: Includes portions of Glades, Okeechobee, and Highlands counties (generally northwest of Lake Okeechobee) and the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Brighton Reservation.
📍 Upper East Coast: Encompasses Martin and St. Lucie counties as well as the northeastern portion of Okeechobee County.
📍 Lower East Coast: Includes Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and parts of Monroe, Collier and Hendry counties.
📍 Lower West Coast: Includes Lee County and portions of Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Monroe counties.
LEARN MORE: The District continues to proactively identify and plan projects to meet current and future water needs throughout the region.
We encourage you to visit SFWMD.gov/WaterSupply and learn more about the District’s work to ensure water sources for all of South Florida’s needs while protecting our water resources and the environment.