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Seminole County begins 20-year utilities master plan, commissioners press for conservation and outreach
Summary
County staff and Jacobs Engineering presented a utilities master plan update extending planning to 2045; commissioners pressed for conservation measures, reclaimed-water expansion and clearer cost and permitting analysis after staff warned existing allocations could be exceeded.
The Seminole County Board of County Commissioners opened a series of work sessions on Sept. 10 to update the county's utilities master plan and extend its planning horizon to 2045. Interim Utilities Director Johnny Edwards and Jacobs Engineering project manager Steve Riley outlined objectives including demand forecasts, capital improvements planning and options to fund future projects.
Steve Riley said early billing‑data analysis shows residential customers account for the majority of water use and that “the average for last year of all these categories was about a 150 gallons per day.” He and county staff also flagged risks tied to the county's consumptive‑use‑permit allocation from the St. Johns River Water Management District, which expires in 2029 and could leave the county vulnerable if demand continues to rise.
Commissioners pressed staff to include a blended consumptive‑use‑permit line in forecasts, engineering standards, and a clear plan for reclaimed‑water expansion and conservation programs targeted at the Northwest service area, where irrigation use is highest. Commissioner Herr emphasized moving beyond study into action and volunteered to take part in homeowner‑association outreach, while other commissioners raised affordability concerns and the need to model impacts to customer rates.
Staff said the update will consider the county’s 2022 conservation plan, integrate holistic water‑policy elements (mitigating septic‑tank impacts, watershed management and alternative supplies), and identify candidate projects for state and federal funding. The consultant plans five workshops, beginning with the Sept. 10 session, and aims to deliver a final report in about a year.
The county did not adopt any final policy in the session; commissioners directed staff and consultants to return with more detailed analyses of regulatory scenarios, potential funding strategies, and outreach plans.
