What YOU can do Water Conservation

Water Conservation
Within five years, at least 36 states will face water shortages.

Currently, water shortages are occurring in areas throughout Florida.   Water supply problems will only get worse, especially if future population growth predictions are accurate.    The population is projected to increase 34 percent by 2025 from over 18 million to more than 24 million people.  This will increase the annual water demand from approximately 2.4 trillion gallons of water a year to nearly 3.3 trillion gallons.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American uses approximately 100 gallons of water each day.  The average resident living within the watershed of the St. Johns River uses over 150 gallons of water a day.  As a result, communities in Central Florida and South Florida are looking to many of our state’s rivers to solve their water supply problems.  The St. Johns River is one of those rivers that is in the crosshairs of utilities seeking approval for water withdrawal projects. 

One thing is clear. We use water extremely inefficiently and that must change.  We have the water conservation technology.  We have the know-how to use water much more efficiently. We just need you to help change the way that we use our precious and limited water resources.  Please, join us by pledging to reduce your own water use and by helping us to advocate for more aggressive water conservation policies and programs.  Together, we can conserve water and save our St. Johns River.

Water Conservation - Requirements

Outdoors:
The St. Johns River Water Management District Lawn and Landscape Irrigation Rule only allows irrigation before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. and only 2 times a week. (http://www.floridaswater.com/floridaswater/irrules.html)  However, some counties have implemented irrigation ordinances that have more stringent requirements, so check with your county administrators to find out what is allowed where you live.

Florida law requires that all automatic irrigation systems installed after May 1991 have a functioning rain sensor shut-off switch. This switch overrides the automatic irrigation system’s cycle when a preset amount of rain has fallen. The switch can be adjusted for different amounts of rainfall and should be set for one-quarter of an inch.

Indoors:
Federal regulations mandate that new showerhead flow rates must be 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) or less at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch (psi).

  New faucet flow rates must not exceed 2.5 gpm at 80 psi or 2.2 gpm at 60 psi.

  However, low-flow showerheads are available that use less than 2.5 gpm without sacrificing performance.   There are two basic types of low-flow showerheads: aerating and laminar-flow. Aerating showerheads mix air with water, forming a misty spray.   Laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water.  If you live in a humid climate, you might want to use a laminar-flow showerhead because it won't create as much steam and moisture as an aerating one.

Before 1992, many showerheads had flow rates of 5.5 gpm. If you have fixtures that pre-date 1992, replace them with a new low-flow model.

Aerators screw on to the tip of the faucet and regulate the maximum flow rate of a faucet.  Aerators are an inexpensive way to conserve water. For maximum water efficiency, purchase aerators that have flow rates of no more than 1.0 gpm.

Under federal law, toilets must not exceed 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf). High-efficiency toilets (HETs) go beyond the standard and use less than 1.3 gpf. Look for the WaterSense label on HETs and other fixtures to ensure that they meet criteria for both performance and water efficiency. WaterSense is a water conservation partnership program that promotes water-efficient products and services.  WaterSense labeled bathroom sink faucets will use no more than 1.5 gpm.

Dual flush toilets allow the user to choose between two flush amounts, either the standard 1.6 (gpf) or an amount that is typically 1.0 gpf or less.

Water Conservation - Tips and Information
back to top

Water Conservation – Products and Services

Water Conservation – How-To Videos

back to top