Estimates say that by 2013 we no longer will be able to pump out of Orange County’s main source of drinking water, the Floridian Aquifer. Utility corporations and county governments have been planning for viable, long-term alternatives for years; but the key, they say, rests in hands of the end-users and their individual conservation efforts.

Thanks in part to the economic downturn, the rapid growth experienced in Orange County has slowed, and with it, the demand for water. “A few years ago utilities were very concerned about rapid growth and demand, but now that is not nearly as critical of an issue anymore,” says Debbie Bradshaw, director of water engineering for OUC. Approximately 50 percent of the water OUC pumps every day goes to residents of unincorporated Orange County. The rest is spread throughout the city of Orlando and several surrounding areas.

Right now utilities across the board are pumping less water than they have been in years past, including Orange County.

“Future demand for water is a complex situation but a lot of people think our population is going to be pretty flat for several years to come so the amount of people, or customers, we’re going to have is tough to predict,” says Bill Segal, current District 5 Orange County Commissioner and former member and chairman of the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Moving forward, OUC is following a plan outlined in their Integrated Resource Planning Document that focuses on reclaimed water and conservation to meet long term demands.

Reclaimed water is wastewater that has been treated for use in nonpotable situations, such as lawn irrigation, which is what roughly 40-50 percent of household water is used for. “The nice thing about reclaimed water is that it’s the right water for the right use,” says Bradshaw. The move will allow drinking water to be used for just that, conserving large amounts of our remaining supply. If you’ve experienced the recent construction on Woodbury Road and Lake Underhill, you have seen the progress of the Eastern Regional Reclamation Project. When completed in 2012, this project will deliver reclaimed water throughout the Southeast Orlando region.

Even with the new delivery system, the key element of future water delivery still centers on conservation. In fact, some estimates say that we may be able to gain upwards of 30 percent more capacity from the aquifer by conservation efforts alone.

The county has taken a three-pronged approach to conserve water. First, they have began installing and recommending various conservation measures. Secondly, they have created tiered water rates. The system consists of five tiers separated by use with rates for usage increasing with each tier. “About 85 percent of the population falls into the third tier of 8,000 to 12,000 gallons per month,” says Segal. “The two rates above that, which are reserved for very large water consumers, are where we will continue to raise rates; we’re really trying to sock it to them in the pocketbook.”

The third aspect of the county’s position is landscaping ordinances. This includes water restrictions as well as a new ordinance stating no more than 40 percent of a yard can be turf grass on new construction. “For new homes this is a quantum leap forward in the right direction,” says Segal. Builders and buyers should expect to see the ordinance go into effect within the next nine months.

The other two options the county is looking at are far more expensive. “The next viable source looks like it’s going to be surface water from the St. Johns River,” says Segal. This water requires far more treatment than aquifer water and some environmental groups are opposed to the idea entirely. “I understand protecting the environment, but if the alternative is no water, then it’s got to come out of the river,” says Waterford Lakes resident Matt Morrisen.

As a last resort, referred to as a worst case scenario by Segal, the county is looking into desalinization of water. This process involves an advanced procedure to remove access salt and minerals  before use. “It’s practically 10 times more expensive than using aquifer water to get it ready for use and it leaves a relatively large carbon footprint because of the electricity required,” says Segal. Water for this project would have to be piped in from the ocean or filtered from a different level of the Floridian Aquifer.

“The low hanging fruit is conservation, so that’s the one that’s really in the best interest of everyone involved,” Segal says.

Article by Corey Gehrold