Water management district: Area has enough water

Water, water everywhere — and more than enough to drink, according to the Northwest Florida Water Management District.

The area that includes Okaloosa County, however, will continue to develop supply plans and alternative supply sources.

In a press release titled, “Northwest Florida has Enough Water,” the district states it “has analyzed water supply for the next 20-year period, as planned, and found that Northwest Florida has sufficient supply to meet all anticipated demands.”

The release says existing and anticipated sources will meet the 150 million gallon a day (mgd) estimated increase while sustaining water resources and associated natural systems.

“Long-term planning since 1998 has helped the District develop water resources and alternative water supply sources and address concerns about saltwater intrusion in coastal wells,” said District Executive Director Douglas E. Barr. “The district has worked with local communities to ensure public supplies are sufficient and safe within all regions.”

Regional Water Supply Plans and alternative water source development will continue in three coastal regions, including the region that includes Okaloosa County. Regional Water Supply Planning is conducted where the Northwest Florida Management District Governing

Board determines traditional sources of water are not adequate to supply water for all existing future reasonable beneficial uses and to sustain water resources for natural systems, according to Division of Resource Management Director Ron Bartel.

According to the press release, total water use in Northwest Florida is projected to increase by 43 percent to about 496 mgd by 2030. Most of the estimated 150 mgd increase is attributed to a 40 percent projected growth in the district’s population to nearly 1.9 million people by 2030.

Public supply is the largest use category, with demands projected to increase by 95 mgd, or 58 percent (from 164 mgd in 2005 to 258 mgd in 2030).

Water used for commercial, industrial and institutional purposes is projected to increase by 25 mgd. Water use for power generation is anticipated to increase by 11 mgd. Agriculture, recreation and domestic self-supply each are projected to increase less than 10 mgd.

The Northwest Florida Water Management District covers the Florida panhandle from Escambia County in the west to Jefferson County in the east. The district is made up of seven water supply planning regions. Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Walton Counties make up Region II.