The purpose of water supply planning is to develop strategies to meet future water demands of urban and agricultural uses, while meeting the needs of the environment. This process identifies areas where historically used sources of water will not be adequate to meet future demands, and evaluates several water source options to meet those demands. As mandated by Florida water law, each regional water supply plan is based on at least a 20-year future planning horizon, and a complete update of each plan is required every five years.
2010 Lower West Coast Water Supply Plan Update
The plan review process is underway examining population and water demand projections, future demands from industrial and agricultural water uses, and future water use of power generation. Water supply development projects proposed in the 2006 plan update and local governments' 10-year facility work plans are being reviewed to determine need for future projects. Public workshops for this plan update process are planned for fall of 2009.
2005-2006 Lower West Coast Water Supply Plan Update
The 2005-2006 Lower West Coast Water Supply Plan Update (2005-2006 LWC Plan Update) is one of four, long-term comprehensive regional water supply plan updates the District has developed for its planning areas. Previous water supply plans for the Lower West Coast (LWC) Planning Area were completed in February 1994 (planning horizon 2010) and April 2000 (planning horizon 2020). The planning horizon for the 2005-2006 LWC Plan Update is 2025.
The 2005-2006 LWC Plan Update consists of a single-volume planning document and nine appendices. These documents provide a common set of data, such as current and future water demands, assumptions and potential water source options. The LWC Plan Update incorporates the following:
Documents existing demands and projects future water demands through 2025 for agricultural and urban water sectors, as well as other water use categories.
Identifies resource issues, including constraints on development of new traditional freshwater sources, and the effects of urbanization on coastal resources.
Identifies and discusses water resource development and water supply projects that will meet future human and environmental needs.
Focuses on alternative water supply projects such as brackish water desalination, capture of seasonally available surface water and expanded use of reclaimed water to meet increased future demands; describes funding opportunities available through the District to foster alternative water supply development.
Describes the legislative, planning, and regulatory framework around which future water use and development decisions in the region will take place.
Identifies areas where collection of resource data and technical studies are needed.
Establishes an implementation time frame for the LWC Plan Update recommendations and requirements.
The 2005-2006 LWC Plan Update will be used by local governments, water users and utilities to modify and update their local comprehensive plans, ordinances, and individual or utility plans, such as 10-year facility work plans. The District has tracked the proposed water supply projects from the current plan with required annual reports from the utilities, and have assisted some projects with grant money through the State's Alternative Water Supply program.
Water Supply Plans
Lower West Coast
The 2005-2006 LWC Plan Update consists of a single-volume planning document and nine appendices. These documents provide a common set of data, such as current and future water demands, assumptions and potential water source options. The LWC Plan Update incorporates the following:
