District helps fund reclaimed water infrastructure
Reclaimed water, typically indicated by purple pipes, offers significant potential as an alternative water supply.
MAITLAND, Fla., June 30, 2017 — A local memorial park will save 215 gallons of water per day after reclaimed water infrastructure for irrigation is installed. The St. Johns River Water Management District contributed $168,261 to the recently completed project at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Orange County.
“Our cost-share program is an incredible tool for supporting local projects that promote sustainable water resources, provide for alternative water supplies and enhance conservation efforts,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “Individual projects like this can result in serious benefits to Florida’s water.”
As part of the project, the 125-acre memorial park capped three irrigation wells, connected to an existing reclaimed water transmission line and installed a weather station with an automatic irrigation rain shut-off function.
Reclaimed water is an alternative water source that stretches freshwater supplies by reducing the demand for groundwater. Reclaimed water can be safely used for a wide variety of purposes, including landscape irrigation for golf courses, parks, highway medians, playgrounds and residential properties.
The district provided partial funding for the project through its cost-share program, which shares costs for projects that assist in creating sustainable water resources, provide flood protection and enhance conservation efforts; Woodlawn Memorial Park funded the balance of the $336,522 project.