Water Conservation
Water conservation is the most important action
we can take to sustain our water supplies, meet future needs, and
reduce demands on Florida’s fragile water-dependent ecosystems such as
lakes, streams and the Everglades. In 2001, during one of the worst
droughts in Florida’s history, the Department of Environmental
Protection began an Initiative to identify additional measures to
increase water use efficiency. The Initiative was an open process
where DEP, in close coordination with the state’s five water
management districts, facilitated public meetings to develop specific
water conservation recommendations. The final report was released in
April 2002 with 51 priority recommendations for improving water use
efficiency. The implementation of the Initiative’s recommendations
has resulted in the "Joint Statement of Commitment".
The “Joint Statement of Commitment for the
Development and Implementation of a Statewide Comprehensive Water
Conservation Program for Public Water Supply” (JSOC) is a written
agreement by key public water supply partners in Florida to
collaborate on measures to improve water use efficiency.
Based on the principles of the JSOC, the
signatories are now developing a work plan with specific tasks,
interim milestones, completion dates, estimates of costs, and
assignment of responsibilities. The work plan is to be completed by
February 2005 and will include recommendations for:
- Developing standardized
definitions and performance measures.
- Establishing a
clearinghouse for water conservation.
- Developing and implementing
a standardized water conservation planning process for utilities.
- Developing and maintaining
a Florida-specific water conservation guidance document.
- Implementing pilot
applications through cooperative agreements with volunteer
utilities.
More information can be found below.
