Sustainable Water Supplies in
the St. Johns River Water
Management District
Presented to
The Northeast Florida Regional Council
November 2007
1
Understanding the Issues
• 2005 Florida
population –
17 million
• Expected to
increase by
11 million by
2030
2
• Demands for
potable water
outpacing
groundwater
supply
Water Supply Assessment
and Regional Water Supply Plan
373.036(2)(b)4, Florida Statutes (F.S.) and 373.0361(1), F.S.
• 20-year horizon
• Identify existing and projected problems
– Areas in which existing sources cannot sustain
projected uses (priority water resource caution
areas)
• Identify solutions to problems
• Protect the environment (water quality, springs,
wetlands, lakes, rivers)
3
Plan Development Process
373.0361(1), F.S.
• Public process
― Meetings held throughout the District
• Coordination with water supply
entities, local governments and other
affected parties
4
SJRWMD Water Supply Conclusions
5
•
Public supply demands double by 2025 from
1995
•
Floridan aquifer cannot supply all needs –
about 200 million gallons per day (mgd) deficit
has been identified
•
Management techniques available
•
Alternative sources available
•
Cooperative regional implementation needed
Priority
Water
Resource
Caution
Areas
(PWRCAs)
6
Sustainable Water Supplies
• Maximize water conservation and reuse of
reclaimed water
• Diversified set of sources
– Groundwater, surface water, seawater
– Conjunctive use of sources to provide reliable
supplies even in drought conditions
– Protect each source by limiting withdrawals to
sustainable levels for each source
• Minimize energy requirements
7
Water Conservation and Reuse
• Foundation of all sustainable water supply
options for the future
• SJRWMD goal: Maximize water
conservation and reuse of reclaimed water
• SJRWMD co-funding reclaimed water
projects, including storage
• Central Florida is leading the way in reuse
8
Water Use Efficiency
• Regardless of source, water conservation is critical
• Existing programs aggressively seek greater
efficiency in water use
• Water Conservation Public Awareness Campaign
successful in reaching the public
• Florida Water StarSM is newest program dedicated to
water efficiency through new home construction
• Working on more stringent requirements in CUP
9
Existing and
Proposed
Alternative
Water
Supply
Projects
Seawater
Brackish groundwater
Surface water
Note: Fresh groundwater
will continue to be the
primary source of supply
for the planning horizon
10
Environmental Protection
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•
11
Minimum flows and levels
Comprehensive study
Scientific peer review, public input
Additional work to be done
Environmental Protection: MFLs
Consider Many Factors
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Recreation in and on the water
Fish and wildlife habitats and the passage of fish
Estuarine resources
Transfer of detrital material
Maintenance of freshwater storage and supply
Aesthetic and scenic attributes
Filtration/absorption of nutrients/other pollutants
Sediment loads
Water quality
Navigation
Surface Water Protection – MFLs
and Related Investigations
• Current estimates of water availability are based
on the existing MFLs
• Additional MFLs are being set on Ocklawaha
River
• Impacts on water quality (including, but not limited
to, salinity) in lower St. Johns River were
important considerations in MFLs
• Additional analysis of impacts on water quality and
habitat in lower St. Johns River is now under way
13
Planning Level Estimates of Potential
Water Availability in St. Johns River
5,357 mgd – average flow of St. Johns River at
Jacksonville
155 mgd – maximum potential withdrawal (St. Johns
River only)
o 2.9% reduction in average flow at
Jacksonville
o No reduction in water levels
14
262 mgd – maximum potential withdrawal (St. Johns
River and Ocklawaha)
o 4.9% reduction in average flow at
Jacksonville
o No reduction in water levels
Surface Water Technical Issues
• Environmental protection – maintaining minimum
flows and levels
• Depending on size of project and location, may not
always be available
• Concentrate disposal
• Treatment technology
• Permitting – CUP, ERP, discharge permits
• Cost – significantly more than fresh groundwater
15
Existing Public Water Supply Surface
Water Sources in SJRWMD
• Taylor Creek
Reservoir
• Lake Washington
16
St. Johns River/Taylor Creek
Reservoir Water Supply Project
17
Combination in-stream and off-stream reservoir project
• Existing in-stream element
• Proposed off-stream element
How SJRWMD has Dealt with
Surface Water Availability Issues
• Investigate feasibility of storage
– Reservoirs
– Aquifer storage/recovery
• Funded storage options
• Will limit withdrawal schedule,
timing and quantities
18
• Encouraged diversified sources
How SJRWMD has Dealt with
Concentrate Management Issues
• Concentrate management investigations
• Feasibility study with the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
(FDEP) for St. Johns River discharge
(complete by September 2008)
• Site-specific issues must be addressed in
FDEP permits for individual projects
19
Consumptive Use Permitting
Program
• Project-specific evaluation of environmental
impacts, including, but not limited to, protection of
MFLs
• Will require that water conservation and reuse are
maximized before any additional allocation of
water
• Will place many conditions on any use, including
monitoring and reporting, limits on when water can
be withdrawn, etc.
20
• Interested stakeholders participation in process
Seawater Desalination
Like surface water, seawater has many issues,
including
21
•
Cost (more than surface water)
•
Energy requirement
•
Concentrate disposal
•
Environmental impacts
•
Treatment technology
Surface Water Versus Seawater
• SJRWMD has engaged local governments
in the planning process and presented
data on both options
• Most have chosen to seek lower cost
option (surface water) as first alternative
source
• Flagler/Palm Coast pursuing seawater now
• Other utilities recognize surface water is
limited and also plan on seawater in future
22
Moving Forward
• Environmental protection is first priority
• Sustainable water supply solution will maximize
conservation and reuse, and use a combination of
groundwater, surface water, and seawater
• Additional work is being done on proposed surface
water projects
o Verify MFLs on St. Johns River to protect
lower St. Johns River
o Concentrate management study to be
completed in 2008
o Set additional MFL on the Ocklawaha River
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• Ample opportunity for continued public involvement
in MFL setting, CUP permitting, FDEP permitting
Questions?
24