April is Water Conservation Month
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County has joined governments, utilities, and agencies across Florida in proclaiming April as Water Conservation Month. This initiative highlights the importance of preserving our water resources, which are essential for our drinking water, springs, rivers, and lakes.
Outdoor irrigation can account for up to 60% of residential water use. Residents can significantly reduce water waste and lower utility bills by making small changes to irrigation habits. We encourage property owners with automatic irrigation systems to “turn it off, watch the weather, and wait to water.” Established plants often require less water than new plantings, and many homeowners can turn off entire irrigation zones or shorten run times, leading to meaningful savings.
Residents using more than 10kg of water per month are encouraged to contact the County for personalized tips on reducing water use and cutting costs. Business owners should also note that commercial irrigation systems must be registered with the County and submit an annual maintenance report to ensure efficiency.
“Water Conservation Month is the perfect time to inspect irrigation systems and prevent unnecessary water waste,” said Eliana Bardi, senior planner in the Water Resources Division of the County’s Environmental Protection Department. “Leaks are common in nearly every system we inspect, and many rainfall shut-off devices are either broken or not activated. A simple yet effective step is to discontinue irrigation on well-established plantings.”
For water-saving tips and conservation strategies, follow the county’s MyYardOurWater Facebook or visit www.AlachuaCountyWater.org.
If they were really concerned then Alachua Co and all other counties wouldn’t allow commercial bottling and would target commercial uses instead of residential. For instance, Ginnie springs (not Alachua co but adjacent) is allowed one million gallons per day to be taken and bottled by Nestle, a Swiss-based multinational corp. How many gallons do the golf courses suck up each day? What about UF’s lush landscaping? Corn Farms?
The fact that they only squeeze residential use is telling. This sentence is deceptive: “Outdoor irrigation can account for up to 60% of residential water use.” Why do they always refuse to mention commercial uses?
Shut up slaves…
The springs bottling is decided by state regs, not the counties. You’re aiming at the wrong people.
“UF uses reclaimed water irrigation for 98% of its irrigation. the reclaimed water is from university’s 3MGD wastewater treatment plan. Every day over 2 million gallons of effluent is generated, 1M gallons used for irrigation on campus, and the other effluent is used for FL aquifer recharge.”
https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/university-of-florida-fl/report/2020-12-04/OP/water/OP-22/#:~:text=UF%20uses%20reclaimed%20water%20irrigation,used%20for%20FL%20aquifer%20recharge.
The county will not mention the massive waste that leaks from the aging water distribution systems. Or the wells that are allowed on lots over 5 acres. Or the insane commercial uses. Or swimming pools. Or the subsidized corn/ethanol farmers, as the comment above stated.
They act like all water waste is attributed to municipally fed residential irrigation systems. This is very disingenuous.
Residential irrigation is one of several areas where conservation can be practiced and without the investments you note necessary for other areas. No commercial corn agriculture left in Alachua County unless for cattle.
Why isn’t residential irrigation an area for better conservation practices?
April is also Whole Health Awareness month, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness Month, among others (google ‘awareness days observances’). At some point
April made need to be made ‘April Awareness Month.’