Plan to prevent a water shortage in Central Florida gets key approval – Central Florida Public Media

Central Florida Water Initiative: A Strategic Plan for Sustainable Water Management

Introduction

A 20-year regional water supply plan for Central Florida has received initial approval from the St. Johns River Water Management District, with further approvals anticipated. The plan, developed by the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), represents a collaborative effort to ensure long-term water security across a five-county area (Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk, and southern Lake). This strategic framework is designed to sustainably manage water resources in a high-growth region, directly addressing key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The CFWI plan is fundamentally aligned with global sustainability targets, providing a regional model for implementing the SDGs. Key goals addressed include:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The plan’s core mission is to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water. It directly supports Target 6.4 by increasing water-use efficiency and ensuring sustainable withdrawals, and Target 6.5 by implementing integrated water resources management through a multi-district partnership.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By proactively managing water resources, the plan strengthens the resilience of Central Florida’s communities against water scarcity, a critical component of building sustainable urban environments (Target 11.5).
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The strategy aims to mitigate and reverse the degradation of freshwater ecosystems, such as springs, rivers, and wetlands, by reducing over-reliance on traditional groundwater sources, in line with Target 15.1.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The plan promotes the efficient use of natural resources through water conservation and the development of reclaimed water projects, contributing to sustainable consumption patterns (Target 12.2).

Projected Water Demands and Environmental Impact

The plan addresses a projected groundwater shortfall of approximately 96 million gallons a day (MGD) by the year 2045, driven by population growth. Historical groundwater development has already resulted in significant environmental stress, impacting the region’s progress toward SDG 15. Observed consequences include:

• Declines in groundwater levels
• Reduced spring and river flows
• Lowered lake levels
• Degradation of wetlands quality

Proposed Solutions and Alternative Water Sources

To achieve water security and environmental protection, the plan outlines a transition toward alternative water sources. A portfolio of projects has been identified with the potential to collectively produce, treat, or store approximately 514 MGD. This strategy is central to achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

1. Surface Water Projects:
   • Projected Yield: 279 MGD
   • Description: Involves the sustainable withdrawal of water from surface bodies like the St. Johns River. This approach diversifies water sources while managing environmental flows to protect aquatic ecosystems (SDG 6, SDG 15).
2. Reclaimed Water Projects:
   • Projected Yield: 130 MGD
   • Description: Consists of treating and recycling wastewater for beneficial reuse. This directly supports a circular economy and advances SDG 6.3 by improving water quality and substantially increasing water recycling.

Governance and Collaborative Framework

The CFWI exemplifies the principles of SDG 6.5 (Integrated Water Resources Management) through its collaborative governance structure, which unites three of Florida’s largest water management districts. This integrated approach has already yielded positive results; despite significant population increases over the past decade, groundwater use has remained relatively constant, demonstrating effective resource management and progress toward SDG 6.4 (Water-Use Efficiency).

Conclusion and Future Outlook

The 20-year water supply plan provides a comprehensive and sustainable pathway to meet Central Florida’s future water demands through 2045. As a “living document” subject to updates every five years, it is designed to adapt to evolving conditions. The plan’s successful implementation is critical for ensuring long-term water security, protecting vital ecosystems, and advancing the region’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) water supply plan addresses and connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary goals identified are:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most directly relevant SDG. The entire article focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water for the Central Florida region. It discusses issues of water scarcity, groundwater depletion, water quality, and the need for integrated water resource management.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The plan is a response to the challenges posed by a “rapidly-growing region” and increasing “population.” It aims to make the five-county urban and suburban area resilient and sustainable by securing a critical resource—water—for its future population, thereby preventing a “drinking water shortage.”
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article touches upon ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns for water. By planning to reduce over-reliance on finite groundwater and promoting the use of reclaimed and surface water, the initiative encourages the efficient use of natural resources. The statement that “groundwater use has remained relatively constant, even though population has gone up significantly” points directly to more efficient consumption patterns.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s discussion of the water supply plan, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
   • The plan’s emphasis on “reclaimed water projects” directly supports this target. The article states that these projects, which involve treating and recycling wastewater, are expected to provide about 130 million gallons a day (MGD).
2. Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
   • The entire plan is designed to address a projected “groundwater shortfall” of 96 MGD, which is a direct measure to address water scarcity. The comment that groundwater use has remained stable despite population growth indicates an increase in water-use efficiency.
3. Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate.
   • The article describes the plan as a “collaborative effort” of the CFWI, which manages water resources “where the boundaries of Florida’s three largest water management districts come together.” This regional, multi-county approach is a clear example of integrated water resources management.
4. Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
   • The article explicitly states that “declines in groundwater levels, spring flows, river flows, lake levels, and wetlands quality have occurred as a result of groundwater development.” The plan’s goal to use alternative water sources is a strategy to reduce pressure on these ecosystems and mitigate further degradation.
5. Target 11.b: Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters.
   • The CFWI’s 20-year regional water supply plan is a perfect example of an integrated plan for a human settlement area focused on resource efficiency (water) and building resilience to the potential disaster of a severe water shortage.
6. Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • The plan’s core objective is to “sustainably manage water resources” for the region. It achieves this by diversifying water sources away from over-exploited groundwater to more sustainable options, thereby promoting the efficient use of this critical natural resource.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 6.3 (Water Recycling): The volume of treated wastewater that is reused. The article provides a specific project goal for this: “reclaimed water projects are expected to make up the second-largest amount of water, about 130 MGD.” Progress can be measured against this target figure.
• Indicator for Target 6.4 (Water Scarcity/Efficiency): The level of water stress, measured by the balance between water demand and available supply. The article quantifies this by projecting a “shortfall on groundwater by about 96 million gallons a day (MGD)” by 2045. The success of the plan can be measured by its ability to close this gap. Additionally, the “change in water use over time” is an indicator, as noted by the observation that “groundwater use has remained relatively constant” despite population growth.
• Indicator for Target 6.5 (Integrated Management): The degree of implementation of integrated water resources management. The existence, approval, and regular five-year updates of the “CFWI’s regional water supply plan” serve as a tangible indicator of this implementation.
• Indicator for Target 6.6 (Ecosystem Health): Changes in the extent and quality of water-related ecosystems. The article implies that metrics such as “groundwater levels, spring flows, river flows, lake levels, and wetlands quality” are being monitored. These metrics serve as direct indicators of the health of these ecosystems.
• Indicator for Target 11.b (Resilience Planning): The adoption and implementation of a regional disaster risk reduction strategy. The approval and ongoing execution of the 20-year water supply plan is the indicator itself, demonstrating a proactive strategy to prevent a water shortage crisis.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cfpublic.org