Report: Brevard will have to tap into other water sources
Brevard and other East Central Florida counties will have to tap the St. Johns River and other sources besides groundwater to fill future water demand, according to a regional water plan.
The St. Johns River Water Management District recently released the final draft of its water supply plan.
The district developed the plan to ensure water supplies can meet future needs without causing saltwater intrusion, harming wetlands or triggering other unacceptable environmental damage that can result from drawing too much groundwater.
The district's governing board will consider approving the plan at a public meeting Aug. 12, in Palatka. The public can give input at the board meeting.
Brevard County will have to find about 11 million gallons more water daily by 2035, as the county's population grows about 25 percent, to 677,900, according to district projections.
During the same time frame, the county's water demand will grow about 10 percent, to more than 122 million gallons daily.
Assuming no drop in per capita use, water demand is estimated to increase by 314 million gallons per day within the entire 18-county district, to more than 1.5 billion daily gallons.
The district's population is expected to increase by almost 1.8 million people from 2010 to 2035, growing to almost 6.5 million people.
Less water use for farming is expected to someone offset the increased use from population growth throughout the district.
Fresh groundwater alone cannot supply all of the 2035 estimated increase in water demand without unacceptable impacts to water resources and related natural systems, district officials say.
Water conservation and alternative water supplies, such as the St. Johns River, will be needed to supplement available groundwater, officials say.
Plans to meet the Brevard region's future demand include a $215 million expansion of Taylor Creek Reservoir in Osceola and Orange counties.
• The District Water Supply Plan 2013 is available for review and comment at floridaswater.com/DWSP/
• Governing Board public meeting at 9 am., Aug. 12, at District Headquarters, 4049 Reid St./Hwy. 100 West, Palatka.