Water is a precious resource – only a limited amount of water is available on our planet and available for human use. Current consumption of water exceeds the rate at which it is replaced in sensitive natural ecosystems. Water pumping, delivery, and treatment consume a significant amount of energy. Simple measures can help to control this waste of resources – preventing water pollution, controlling stormwater, reusing water and implementing wastewater technologies, reducing potable water use in buildings, and utilizing water-efficient landscaping.

Florida’s Water Bodies & Pollution

Watershed Monitoring Basin Reports - Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection shows the 29 watershed monitoring basins, including the St. Marks/Ochlocknee local basin. The watershed monitoring basin reports are a summary of the status network monitoring results for surface water and ground water.

Eutrophication of Florida’s Lakes - University of Florida’s Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences definition of eutrophication - the nutrient enrichment of lakes and other bodies of water. 

Nonpoint Source Pollution - Florida Department of Environmental Protection definition of “nonpoint source pollution”, which is also referred to as “pointless personal pollution”

Clean Water Network of Florida - The Clean Water Network of Florida is a coalition committed to full implementation, enforcement and strengthening of the Clean Water Act and other safeguards of water resources.

Water Protection Pledge - Florida Defenders of the Environment have created a pledge to help protect the quality of Florida's water by considering springs, lakes, rivers, bays and wildlife.

TAPP - Think About Personal Pollution - The TAPP Campaign, created by the City of Tallahassee, helps educate individuals on ways that small personal changes in home and yard practices can help keep local lakes, sinks and streams cleaner.

Stormwater Management

Northwest Florida Water Management District - The Northwest Florida Water Management District website features data, publication, and news for the area from the St. Marks River Basin in Jefferson County to the Perdido River in Escambia County.

International Erosion Control Association - The International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is an association devoted to helping members solve the problems caused by erosion and its byproduct—sediment through stormwater management and natural resource protection.

Green Roofs - Green Roofs for Healthy Cities is a not-for-profit industry association working to promote the industry throughout North America. 

Florida Stormwater Management Academy – University of Central Florida - The Stormwater Management Academy is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of valuable surface and groundwater supplies for the benefit of present and future generations.  They provide training and information resources for stormwater management.

EPA Stormwater Best Management Practices - The EPA’s Best Management Practices are based on the Stormwater Phase II Rule's six minimum control measures: public education, illicit discharge detection & elimination, construction, post-construction, and pollution prevention.

Green roads: Use of permeable pavers - Research article from the Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals that details the use of permeable pavement, which can help reduce the impacts of urbanization on receiving waters.

Porous pavement - Further details on the use of permeable pavement to allow for on-site stormwater infiltration

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure - The EPA and four EPA and four national partner groups signed an agreement to promote green infrastructure as an environmentally preferable approach to stormwater management. The website contains definitions, resources, and research information on green infrastructure.

Reducing Stormwater Costs through Low Impact Development (LID) - An EPA report that provides information on the costs and benefits of using Low Impact Development (LID) strategies and practices to help protect and restore water quality.

Wastewater & Water Reuse

Improving Household Wastewater Treatment - A paper from University of Florida Institute for Food & Agricultural Sciences providing information on how a properly installed and maintained system for treating and disposing of household wastewater minimizes the impact of that system on groundwater and surface water.

Florida Reuse Program - The background on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Reuse Program, which reduces demands on valuable surface and ground waters used for drinking water sources, eliminates discharges that may pollute valuable surface waters, recharges ground water, and postpones costly investment for development of new water sources and supplies.

City of Tallahassee Tram Road Reuse Facility - A water reclamation facility, built by the City of Tallahassee, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Northwest Florida Water Management District and the St. Joe Company, uses treated wastewater in innovative and environmentally sensitive ways.

Recycle the Rain - A how-to guide for creating rain barrels from the South Florida Water Management District.

Non-potable Water Reuse - Guide from University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences for capturing rainwater for non-potable uses based on rainfall data for Florida.

Rainwater Harvesting from Rooftop Catchments - Detailed information on installing a rainwater harvesting system from the Department of Sustainable Development (DSD) of the Organization of American States (OAS)

Indoor Potable Water Use

Water Sense Label for Fixtures - The EPA’s labeling system for water-efficient products and practices allows consumers and homeowners to identify products and services that use less water while performing as well as or better than conventional models.

Low-Flow Showerheads - Southern California Gas Company information on possible cost savings for using a low-flow showerhead

Saving Water Indoors - St. John's River Water Management District’s site, Florida’s Water, features tips on saving water indoors through water-conserving practices and fixtures.

H2OUSE Water Saving Home - California Urban Water Conservation Council website promoting best practices for conserving water in the home

Landscaping Water Use

Water Efficiency in the Landscape - Department of Energy guide to water efficiency, through the planned management of potable water to prevent waste, overuse, and exploitation of the resource

St. John's River Water Management District Saving Water Tips - Outdoors - St. John's River Water Management District’s site, Florida’s Water, features tips on saving water indoors through irrigation efficiency and landscaping material selection.

Xeriscape - North Florida Water Management District’s brief overview and introduction to the principles of Xeriscape landscaping: plan the soil, plants, grass and mulch and water to maintain.

Florida Native Plant Society – plants native to Leon County - Species listed that are found naturally in Leon County and adapt to variou soil & sunlight conditions.

Integrated Pest Management - Integrated pest management (IPM) guide tells how to use environmentally sound, yet effective, ways to deter pests.

Landscape Irrigation & Florida Friendly Design Standards - Northwest Florida Water Management District & the committee on Landscape Irrigation & Florida-friendly Landscaping provide recommendations for design and maintenance.

Florida Friendly Landscaping - Sponsored by the State and its water management districts, the site promotes the principles of Florida-friendly landscaping to reduce t he impact of irrigation of lawns and landscaping on the state’s municipal water supplies.

Water Wisely With Micro Irrigation - Article on the advantages of a micro-sprinkler irrigation system

Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation - A basic guide to a micro-sprinkler system from Just Fruits & Exotics

General Water Conservation

Florida’s Water Woes - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration article on water issues in Florida and technological advances in using treated seawater.

Reuse, recycle and reclaim! - North Florida Water Management District’s three R’s of water

Conserve Your Water - Water conservation tips for individuals from the Florida Public Service Commission

Site development made possible by