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Utilities Must Diversify as Water Resources Run Low, Report Concludes

Krista Kennedy via Flickr

Central Florida's fresh groundwater isn't enough to meet future demand. Already some water bodies are at risk. That's according to a new report from the Central Florida Water Initiative, a collaboration of three water management districts, the state and regional stakeholders.

The report projects Central Florida's water use will grow 40% by 2035. Waterways most at risk are in the Wekiva area, western Seminole County, western Orange County, southern Lake County and on the Lake Wales Ridge.

Tom Bartol of the Saint Johns River Water Management District helped draft the report. He says utilities will have to explore other sources."We will see some going to brackish groundwater. We will see some going to surface water", said Bartol. "And so that kind of increases the portfolio, and some of those are more expensive than fresh groundwater."

But he says consumers aren't likely to see their water bills rise in the near future, even though water development projects could run into the billions of dollars.

Historically Central Florida has relied on the Floridan aquifer for fresh groundwater. Nearly 100% of the region's wastewater is reused, for landscape irrigation for instance.