April 9, 2020

Proclamation highlights District's ongoing efforts to support water conservation. 

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today at its regular monthly business meeting declared April as Water Conservation Month. This declaration highlights the District's ongoing efforts to conserve and protect South Florida's water which is vital to the region's environment, people, and businesses.

"Water is our most precious resource and our core mission is to protect our water resources," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss. "With our regional demand for water expected to grow by 20 percent by 2040, we all need to do our part to conserve every drop. Recognizing Water Conservation Month and the efforts of this District every day to support and encourage the conservation of water is part of fulfilling our core mission."

One of the biggest impacts residents can make to conserve water is to improve irrigation settings to reduce wasting water for irrigation and following SFWMD’s simple water conservation tips. The majority of residential water use occurs outdoors with landscape irrigation accounting for 50 percent of home water use on average. South Florida yards only need to be irrigated up to twice a week, even during the driest times of the year.

The District reminds residents that hand washing uses very little water, and residents are encouraged to continue frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) according to CDC guidelines. 

Residents can learn more about things they can do around the house to conserve water including:

• Watering the lawn based on its actual needs and following the District’s year-round landscape irrigation water conservation measures and/or local ordinances.
• Ensuring rain sensors are operating properly. Irrigating during or after significant rainfall is a major cause of outdoor water waste and can cost you money. 
• Replacing aerators in kitchen and bathroom sinks with models rated for 1.5 gallons per minute or less.
• Switching to WaterSense labeled products including indoor showerheads, bathroom facets and toilets to save hundreds of gallons of water a week.
• Implement Florida-Friendly landscaping and principles by using low maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices.
• Consider updating appliances like dishwashers and washing machines to Energy Star rated products.
• Using the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanent press wash cycles use more water.
• Thawing frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.
• Scraping your dishes before loading in the dishwasher without rinsing.
• Installing high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.

The District administers conservation programs for the public such as the Water CHAMP program, performs public education and outreach on ways to conserve water, and has year-round irrigation rules in place.

SFWMD also provides grants and cost-sharing to local governments to help support their local water conservation and alternative water supply efforts. These efforts and others have led to a steady reduction of the amount of water used per capita in South Florida over the past 15 years.

Today’s Governing Board meeting was held online following the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Health to avoid large in-person gatherings and promote social distancing. In keeping with SFWMD's core mission to engage the public and stakeholders, the online meeting included opportunities for the public to participate and give input.

Click here to watch a video about SFWMD's Water Conservation Efforts.