FSAWWA SPEAKING OUT
Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Water Gone? Emilie Moore, P.E., PMP, ENV SP Chair, FSAWWA
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pril is here and Water Conservation Month is upon us. It’s a good time to consider what we can do at home and at work to efficiently use water.
Water Conservation at Home Water conservation opportunities at home can include identifying and repairing leaks, and reducing water use. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), household leaks can waste almost 900 billion gallons of water annually in the United States, which is equal to the annual household water use of nearly 11 million homes. Additionally, approximately 5 to 10 percent of U.S. homes have leaks of 90 gallons a day or more. Take a Look Inside For indoor water use reduction, in addition
to water use best practices, using WaterSense® products can help consumers more efficiently use potable water. WaterSense is a voluntary partnership program sponsored by EPA; it’s a label for water-efficient products and a resource for helping consumers save water. Residential Outdoor Water Use Residential outdoor water use in the U.S. accounts for almost 8 billion gallons of water daily, mainly for landscape irrigation (EPA). For Floridians who irrigate their lawns, this irrigation water volume is approximately 50 percent of the total water use (St. Johns River Water Management District). For plants, such as St. Augustine grass, the recommended irrigation rate is one-half to three-quarters inch of water per application (Publication #ENH5, University of Florida IFAS, 2021) and water application frequency is based on the season. In-ground irrigation systems affect lawnwatering behaviors of residential homeowners and the rise in the prevalence of in-ground sprinkler systems has led to increased irrigation application rates. Lawn irrigation rates, therefore, may approach one inch of water per application, equating to 0.62 gallons of water per application per square foot of lawn. Homes with in-ground irrigation systems were six times more likely to water their landscapes at least once per week
Landscape with native Florida plants. (photo: Archbold Biological Station, Highlands County, Fla.)
46 April 2022 • Florida Water Resources Journal
during the warm season when residential outdoor water use is at its peak. Homes with no grass in the landscape were 71 percent less likely to water on a weekly basis (Morera, Maria C.; Monaghan, Paul F.; Dukes, Micheal D.; “Determinants of Landscape Irrigation Water Use in Florida-Friendly Yards.” Dec. 11, 2019). Opportunities for Landscape Water Conservation In support of conserving water, the Florida Legislature enacted the Florida-friendly landscaping statute, F.S. 373.185, in 2001, which limits the ability of homeowners associations (HOAs) to prohibit homeowners from adopting landscaping practices that conserve water or are otherwise environmentally sustainable. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) is the state’s extension program that promotes sustainable alternatives to conventional landscaping, and provides guidance on low-impact, environmentally friendly, science-based landscape practices that use less water and reduce pollutant loading to Florida waters. The FFL is a partnership of the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The most-recent program addition to FFL is the Florida-Friendly Communities (FFC) Program (added in 2019), which collaborates with local governments, builders and developers, HOAs, and community/property managers to integrate FFL landscaping and promote FFL’s nine principals: S Right plant, right place S Water efficiently S Fertilize appropriately S Mulch S Attract wildlife S Manage yard pests responsibly S Recycle yard waste S Reduce stormwater runoff S Protect the waterfront An example of efforts to reduce outdoor water use is seen in the Alachua County Comprehensive Plan: 2019-2040 (adopted in 2019). One of the 15 elements in the plan is the potable water and sanitary sewer element. Objective 8.1 of this element is “to promote the increased conservation and reuse of water” and Policy 8.1.3 states: “Development plans shall be reviewed for inclusion of native vegetation and other low-water-demand landscape material in order to reduce outdoor water consumption.”
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