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Water Where-with-all. Coral Springs Government Academy June 28, 2012 Carole Morris Intergovernmental Representative Government & Community Affairs SFWMD. Who we are. Who we are and what we do. Covers an 18,000 square-mile region:. 16 counties; 7.5 million residents
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Water Where-with-all Coral Springs Government Academy June 28, 2012 Carole Morris Intergovernmental Representative Government & Community Affairs SFWMD
Who we are and what we do Covers an 18,000 square-mile region: • 16 counties; 7.5 million residents • Regional responsibilities • Water Quality • Flood Control • Natural Systems • Water Supply • West • Palm • Beach
History • Flood and Drought • Dredge and Drain the Swamp • 1948 US Congress authorized a flood control project • 1949 Florida created a regional agency to operate the system
Today’s C&SF System • 2,669 miles of canals and levees • 160 major drainage basins • 1,290 water control structures • 66 pump stations • 9 Regional Field Stations & Headquarters
Current Conditions • Water Shortage Warning rescinded • Average to above average rainy season forecast • Early start to rainy season replenished supplies • Year Round water conservation measures targeting outdoor irrigation
Implementing Water Conservation Program • Year-round landscape irrigation measures • Adopting and incorporating Florida-friendly landscaping • Retrofitting of water-guzzling fixtures and appliances
Florida-Friendly Landscaping Nine principles: • Right plant, right place • Water efficiently • Fertilize appropriately • Mulch • Attract wildlife • Manage yard pests responsibly • Recycle • Reduce storm water runoff • Protect the waterfront
Retrofit Water-Guzzlers Fix that Leak • One drop per second from a leaky faucet = 3,150 gallons per year! • 10,000 homes = 31.5 million gallons!!! • Replace old fixtures & appliances • Install low-flow toilets • Replace old showerheads • Add aerators to faucets • Use more efficient dishwashers and washing machines
Change Your Habits, too! • Turn off the faucet when brushing your teeth or rinsing vegetables • Take shorter showers • Don’t use toilet as a waste basket • Wash full laundry and dish loads Little things can make a big difference!
Benefits of Year-Round Conservation • Reduces wasteful water use • Saves money • Helps stretch wet season water supplies through drier months • Reduces severity of potential water shortages
Before and After the Storm SFWMD Role: • Monitor weather conditions and water levels around-the-clock • As needed, open gates to lower water levels in primary canals in anticipation of expected inflows • During and after heavy rains, route excess water through waterways to storage or coastal discharge points
Before and After the Storm Optimum flood control is a three-tiered system – functioning much like a roadway system
Before and After the Storm It starts in your community…
Before and After the Storm Major canals receive inflows and move water into storage or discharge to the coast
Before and After the Storm Secondary canals connect to farm and neighborhood systems