Agenda Item Name:
Title
Alachua County Water Conservation Program
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Presenter:
Stacie Greco
Description:
This presentation will provide an update on EPD's water conservation programs and will explore potential next steps.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Staff's recommendations are to:
? Ask staff to come back with revisions to Irrigation Design Code in the summer of 2022
? Direct staff to work with stakeholders to explore:
? Requirements for soil amendments in new construction
? Prohibitions on permanent high-volume irrigation
? Authorize Chair letter asking WMD to prohibit irrigation wells and to allow Alachua County to adopt stricter irrigation restrictions
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Prior Board Motions:
At the March 22, 2022 meeting, the BoCC approved the Proclamation declaring April 2022 as "Water Conservation Month" in Alachua County.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
NA
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Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Environment
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Background:
Alachua County's water conservation program was formalized in 2012 with the publishing of the Water Conservation Initiative and the repurposing of an EPD Senior Planner position. The program relies largely on grant funds for educational components. Current funding includes the Turf SWAP landscape retrofit program, Aquifer Awareness education campaign, and springs protection videos and social media. The program also implements the Water Quality Code (Chapter 77) requirements related to water conservation.
Public Supply is the largest water use in Alachua County and is largely driven by residential water use. Landscape irrigation accounts for almost 60% of residential water use, so is the main focus of current educational and regulatory efforts. Landscape irrigation restrictions have been implemented by EPD since 2009, with financial support from the St Johns River Water Management District from 2009-2013. The 2015 Landscape Irrigation Design Code created an approval and inspection process for all ne...
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