Broward commission to hold public hearing on tighter, permanent water restrictions Tuesday

Broward County residents could be looking at tougher, permanent water restrictions, if the Broward County commission passes a water conservation ordinance. On Jan. 8, at 2 p.m., the commission will hold a public hearing (where the public has three minutes per person to speak on the issue) on the enactment of a permanent, year-round, two-day per week landscape irrigation ordinance. This is part of a regional water conservation plan with the South Florida Water Management District, which is the result of 30 public workshops and 2 years of input from water users.

“The strategies employed today to meet our water use challenges will shape the character of South Florida for years to come,” said Broward Commissioner Kristen Jacobs, who is urging residents to support the ordinance. “In South Florida, our per capita water use of 179 gallons per day exceeds that of any other part of Florida, and is twice the national average. In Broward County, this could equate to as much as 322 million gallons of water per day, with up to 50 percent of that water used to irrigate our landscapes (and up to 50 percent of irrigation water lost to evaporation and runoff). Continuing to use water in this way will undoubtedly lead to seriously adverse consequences for not only our residents, but also the Everglades – which occupy two thirds of Broward County – and our sole source of potable water, the Biscayne Aquifer.”

Water conservation is fast becoming one of the most cost-effective, readily available and sustainable strategies for ensuring the protection of our water resource, added Jacobs. Other counties, such as Miami-Dade and Lee County, have already taken the lead on implementing the year-round, 2-day per week strategy.

Jacobs is urging residents to contact their County Commissioner (their contact information is listed below) to express support for the proposal, even if they can’t attend the meeting, saying to email or call their offices with their position. The meeting is Jan. 8, 2 p.m., inside the Broward County Governmental Center at the corner of Andrews Avenue and Broward Blvd., in room 422.

For details on the Comprehensive Water Conservation Program and water conservation tips, please visit www.savewaterfl.com.
More information about the Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule is available at www.sfwmd.gov/2days.

Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, District 1 (

Commissioner Kristin D. Jacobs, District 2 (

Commissioner Stacy Ritter, District 3 (

Mayor Ken Keechl, District 4 (

Commissioner Lois Wexler, District 5 (

Vice Mayor Sue Gunzburger, District 6 (

Commissioner John E. Rodstrom, Jr., District 7 (

Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin, District 8 (

Commissioner Albert C. Jones, District 9 (

Related posts:

1. Broward county two-day water restrictions now permanent
2. Water bill eventually going up again in Broward?
3. Water conservation message comes to Fort Lauderdale airport
4. Broward County faces possible tougher water restrictions
5. Residents Urged to Conserve Water in Broward

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