Today, the South Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board approved the 2025 Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) Regional Water Supply Plan, a long-term roadmap to secure sustainable water supplies for the next 20 years in Central Florida.
Read the draft final documents here. The final plan will be posted on CFWIWater.com in mid-December.
The CFWI is a collaborative partnership among the St. Johns River, South Florida, and Southwest Florida water management districts, along with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, local governments, utilities and other stakeholders. With Central Florida’s population now exceeding 3.4 million, working together is critical to protecting and managing our shared water resources. The CFWI Planning area includes Orange, Osceola, Polk and Seminole counties and southern Lake County.
The 2025 CFWI Regional Water Supply Plan concludes that current and future water demands can be met through 2045, while sustaining water resources and related natural systems with appropriate management, continued diversification of water supply sources, water conservation, and implementation of identified water supply and water resource development projects.
The report concludes that fresh groundwater availability of up to 760 million gallons per day (mgd) as identified in the 2020 plan is still valid based on current water resource evaluations of this plan. Based on the 2045 groundwater demand projections (856 mgd), the resulting groundwater shortfall is approximately 96 mgd. To prevent that outcome, the plan includes a diverse portfolio of 167 water supply and resource development projects and 27 water conservation projects, ensuring that growth and environmental protection move hand in hand.
From 2020 through 2024, the water management districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection collectively invested approximately $397.5 million in 36 alternative water supply projects that have been completed or are under construction, creating over 88 million gallons per day of new water supply. During the same period, about $2.85 million was dedicated toward 30 water conservation projects that are complete or underway, projected to save over one million gallons per day. Together, these investments demonstrate the importance of shared funding and regional collaboration in managing and protecting Central Florida’s water resources.
“Ensuring adequate water supply now and in the future is what makes our communities strong,” said District Water Supply Bureau Chief Mark Elsner. “This water supply plan was a very collaborative effort, and I appreciate the other water management districts, our partners, stakeholders and our staff for all of their work to complete this plan."
The District proactively develops long-term water supply plans that identify future water needs and evaluate and identify water sources and projects to meet the future water needs throughout its 16-county region. As part of its mission, the District ensures there is sufficient water supply to meet the needs of the region’s residents, visitors, and the environment – now and in the future. Water supply planning, water conservation and the use of alternative water supplies are essential to meet the growing demand on limited water resources.
Water supply plans look at least 20 years into the future and are updated every five years to stay current with growth trends.
Visit SFWMD.gov/WaterSupply to read more about water supply planning.