Do you know what you’ll be doing on this date, the first day of summer, in 2030? We can only dream, but there are some things that are a given- you’ll probably take a shower, brush your teeth, wash your hands, drink some water, and look at some birds some point in the day.
Crystal balls aside, it is critical to plan for our region’s and environment’s water security now. That’s why Audubon Florida and several local Audubon chapters, including South Florida Audubon and Collier Audubon, are participating in a number of meetings sponsored by the South Florida Water Management District for regional water resource planning. These regional water supply plans, which are divided into a number of regions including the Lower East Coast and Lower West Coast, are updated every five years and plan our water resources into the next twenty years. A variety of stakeholders participate, including representatives from utilities, local governments, planners, agriculture, and environmentalists.
Yesterday, Audubon participated in a meeting for the Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan update, covering Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties. A resounding theme from the discussion was that our population and water demands have not been growing as much as expected. In fact, many projects recommended in the 2005 update of water supply plan have been deferred and may not be needed until after 2030 horizon. Nevertheless, water demands are still growing. And, sea level rise will be a serious challenge for coastal cities of the future. The Broward cities of Hallandale and Dania Beach are already coping with this reality.
To meet these future demands, a number of different potential water sources for the future are available, including large reservoirs, surface and groundwater (which Audubon continues to urge caution to make sure these resources are not depleting water for the environment), reclaimed water, and water conservation.
Something was clear from the discussion- water conservation is the most cost-effective source of water and can have dramatic results. The cost to save or create 1,000 gallons of water was dramatically lower for water conservation, at a mere $0.40 to $3 versus $3.42 to $11.33 to construct a new facility. There were also tangible examples of success for municipalities reducing water using, including Cooper City and Pompano Beach . While much has been done, there is still a lot more to be accomplished to maximise water savings
As South Florida undergoes this long-term water resource planning, Audubon is emphasizing the importance of water to sustain our cherished Everglades and critical habitats. Everglades restoration projects and rules to protect our water resources are the tools we have to sustain wildlife of tomorrow.
