Water Restrictions

Nearly half of all residential water use goes to lawn and landscape irrigation. Restrictions are in place year-round when it comes to irrigation. This applies to everyone, whether you’re in the city and use public water or live in the country and have your own well.

• Water only when needed and not between 10am and 4pm.

• Water for no more than one hour per zone.

For additional information about the watering restrictions, please call (800) 232-0904.

Source: St. Johns River Water Management District with fresh. Not surprisingly, this tends to be a manmade issue.

“As groundwater is pumped out, this reduces the pressure in the aquifer, which can allow vertical migration of brackish/ saltwater upward, which is known as ‘saltwater intrusion,’” Laidlaw explains.

Saltwater intrusion can also occur when wells are drilled too deep.

He points out that there is a greater potential for saltwater intrusion along the coast where seawater can migrate horizontally, in addition to the upward movement of saltwater from the depths of the aquifers.

“Pumping too much groundwater along the coast can cause saltwater intrusion, which can create a negative impact on our springs and rivers,” says Laidlaw. “The whole planning process has to allow the environment to have the water it needs, as well as for the growing population. It’s a balancing act.”

Drop By Drop

Pay a visit to the incredibly scenic springs and rivers in our part of Florida and it’s hard to imagine worrying about having enough water. But the fact is, the only way the aquifer systems “recharge” is through rainwater.

Florida averages 51 inches of rain per year. Last year we received 58 inches, making 2017 the wettest in a decade. As of July 2018, counties in the St. Johns district had already received 51.01 inches, meaning this year is set to surpass 2017’s impressive stats.

With all this rain, those aquifers should be full to overflowing, right? Unfortunately, a great percentage (75 percent or about 38 of those 51 inches) of rainfall never reaches the aquifers. About three-fourths of the annual average rainfall evaporates or runs o into lakes, rivers and streams.

“The recharge of aquifers from rainwater can be as little as one inch per year to more than 12 inches,” notes Laidlaw. “In areas where (soil) sediments are thicker, the recharge is less.”

Keeping It Clean

Areas where recharge is higher are also at greater risk of carrying contaminated water into the aquifer. For example, sinkholes o er a greater opportunity for material in the water to enter the aquifer system, so this increases the risk of contamination.

“Springs are like a window on the aquifer. They reflect the health of the system because they are a direct conduit to the aquifer,” says Laidlaw.

It doesn’t take a large amount of a hazardous substance to cause contamination. For example, if someone dumps used motor oil on the ground (which is illegal, by the way!), the oil can mingle with water as it percolates down through the soil and eventually make its way into the aquifer.

“Essentially, whatever you dump on the ground has the potential to seep into the water table and migrate whichever way groundwater is moving, so that contamination can reach the aquifer,” Laidlaw notes. “Everyone needs to be responsible for what they put on the ground.”

This includes used oil, pesticides and fertilizer, as well as underground fuel storage tanks, which can leak and migrate into the drinking water supply.

“If people don’t act responsibly, these elements can find their way into the groundwater, and once they’re in the aquifer system, it’s very di cult and expensive to get them out of the system,” says Laidlaw.

You may have heard that water from a deep well is better than from a shallow one. Generally speaking, this applies to the aquifer system, as well, simply because the deeper the aquifer, the less susceptible it is to contamination.

Doing Your Part

“Conservation is critical and is the least expensive way to save water,” observes Laidlaw. “It really boils down to using water wisely.”

Upgrading two commonly used appliances—washing machines and toilets—can significantly reduce water usage for the average household.

According to Consumer Reports, older agitator top-loading washing machines used more than 40 gallons of water for an average-sized load. Manufacturers must meet tougher federal standards now, meaning modern washers use far less water. Newer models require just 13 gallons or less to do an eight-pound load.

Toilets are responsible for nearly onethird of household water usage. The more people in a household, the more water can be saved simply by replacing old toilets with newer low-flush models. Low-flush toilets use about 1.28 to 1.6 gallons per flush,

How You Can Help

With a few simple tweaks to your routine, you can save water and help protect aquifer systems.

• Turn o water when brushing your teeth and washing your face.

• Only run the dishwasher or washing machine with a full load.

• Fix leaking/dripping faucets and toilets. Those drips can add up to thousands of gallons a month!

• Install low-flush toilets, showerheads and newer-model washing machine.

• Water lawns wisely and only when needed.

• Collect rainwater for garden and outdoor use.

• If you have an irrigation system, utilize a rain sensor to avoid unnecessary water use.

• Follow watering restrictions for your area.

• Maintain a landscape with Florida native plants, which require minimal care and water.

• Take care when using fertilizers, pesticides, etc. Follow label directions carefully to avoid runo , and don’t over use.

• Dispose of used oil and petroleum products only at designated disposal areas; never dump them on the ground.

as compared with old models that use a whopping five to seven gallons each flush.

“Turning o the faucet while brushing your teeth sounds simple, but it saves about one-half gallon of water per day,” says Laidlaw. “If you have 20 million people doing this, that’s 10 million gallons of water. Collectively, it adds up!”

Learn more › TO FIND OUT JUST HOW MUCH WATER YOU’RE USING AND WAYS TO SAVE, VISIT THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT WEBSITE AT sjrwmd.com. UNDER THE MENU TAB, CLICK ON WATER CONSERVATION, AND THEN CLICK ON HOME WATER USE SURVEY.