In MANATEE County (FL), no more potable water use for landscape irrigation

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Floridians get their water from rivers, streams, wetlands, lakes, springs, aquifers, and estuaries across the state. Florida rainfall is plentiful, but the challenges facing Florida water contamination have been escalating to new heights.

Flooding, discharge of fats, oils and greases, buildings discharge, overloaded treatment plants, mined limestone quarries, saltwater intrusion, leaking septic tanks and cracked superfund sites, are all contaminants’ problems of their own. When all of them are considered together, we can easily reach a crisis point, where short-term solutions will have a very slim impact. 

Potable water conservation is driving the development of new laws, ordinances, and consent decrees in the state of Florida. 

MANATEE COUNTY CONSERVATION ORDINANCE

The Objective 3.2.3 of the ordinance focuses on Water conservation. 

Recognize inclusion in the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) , Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA) by maintaining community per capita usage of potable water at or below one hundred ten (110) gallons per capita per day to ensure a continued supply of potable water for future County residents and visitors. 

The objective is supported by 2 main policies: 

Policy 3.2.3.1. Encourages residents and businesses to maintain or improve water conserving habits, by 

  • Continuing offering water conservation education programs. 
  • Coordinating local water conservation education efforts with the SWFWMD, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, and Coastal Heartland National Estuary Partnership, and the Manatee County School Board. 
  • Coordinating with the Water District in the development and implementation of programs addressing Southern Water Use Caution Area Issues. 

Policy 3.2.3.2. Requires all water used for irrigation in new development to be the lowest quality of available water which adequately and safely meets their water use needs by requiring stormwater reuse, alternative irrigation sources, reclaimed water use, and gray water irrigation systems. Priority to receive reclaimed water shall be given to users who transfer groundwater withdrawal or other permitted quantities to Manatee County. Potable water from County utilities shall not be utilized for landscape irrigation. [See Policy 9.6.1.3, and policies under Objective 9.1.5] 

  • Cooperation among County departments during development review to ensure policy compliance. 
  • Continue to provide incentives such as the rebate program to replace the use of potable water for irrigation with alternative, non-potable irrigation sources. 

Florida building code requires NSF350C certification for greywater recycling.

The AQUALOOP greywater system is the only system certified by NSF International with the NSF 350C Standard for commercial and residential applications. 

Do you know what NSF 350C certification entails? Watch the video:

Ecovie is located in Miami, Florida.  Call us for lunch and learn. +1 305-928-6343