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County hears stark projection on groundwater limits; conservation and reclaimed water touted as cheapest fixes
Summary
Consultants told commissioners Seminole County risks exceeding allocated groundwater use in parts of the county by 2029 unless conservation, reclaimed-water expansion, or mitigation projects are accelerated. Staff said aggressive conservation could push immediate risk from 2029 to about 2036 and combined measures might reach 2045.
The board spent a detailed work session on the utilities master plan and future water supply options. Jacobs project manager Steve Riley said Seminole’s systems rely on the Upper Floridan aquifer and that projected demand could exceed Consumptive Use Permit allocations in certain regions by 2029 unless the county implements supply and conservation measures.
Riley summarized regional pressure from the Central Florida Water Initiative and said, “we are projecting that before your cup exceeds in 2029, you may be exceeding your allocation in the Northeast and the Northwest.” He and staff outlined solutions including aggressive conservation, expansion of reclaimed-water piping and reuse, targeted septic-to-sewer conversions paired with reclaimed mains, well deepening, and managed aquifer recharge pilots. The county’s own 2022 water-conservation plan projects savings from behavioral and technology changes of roughly “about 2,700,000 gallons per day over the next 20 years,” the presentation said.
Commissioners requested a one-page comparative analysis that rates each option’s water savings against cost and implementation ‘pain’ (construction disruption, resident cost). Staff will return with detailed scenarios and timing tied to the county’s consumptive-use permit renewal window.
