American Planning Assooat,on Florida Chapter
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Making Great Communities Happen
Also In This Issue • Other Water and Conservation Related Articles -The Tie Between Land Use and Water Supply / p. 4 -Introducing Supply and Demand to Water Supply / p. 5-6 -Potable Water Level of Service Standards / p. 7-9 • Conference Strives to Bridge Past to Tomorrow / p. 11 . • Call for Conference Presentations/ p. 12 • Florida's Newest Certified Planners/ p. 14
Regular Features • President's Message/ p. 3 • Planner Notes/ p. 10 • Consultant Directory / p. 18-21 • Job Mart/ p. 22-23 • Events - back page
FEBRUARY 2009 The Florida Chapter of APA provides statewide leadership in the dev elopment of sustainable communities by a d v ocating excellence in planning, providing professional development for its members, and working to protect and enhance the natural and built environments.
Planners Should Lead Conservation of Florida's Water Resources by Jay H. Exum, Ph.D., and Stephen Suau, P.E.
Conserving water and reduc ing consumption is arguably the most sustainable and efficient means of addressing Florida's water resource issues. Florida planners can take a leadership role in helping to man age Florida's water resources by sup porting policies that make water conser vation a preferred strategy, promoting guidelines to man date water conser vation in planned .developments, and incorporating water conservation measures into projects during the planning stage. Water conservation in Florida historically has been approached as a temporary solution to con ditions such as droughts and shortages. The efforts often have been underfunded and short-term. Attempts to create long-term water conservation programs haven't taken root partly because emphasis was
placed on other water-manage ment efforts, such as alternative water supplies, which currently receive incentive funding from the State of Florida. More recently, areas of Florida have initiated efforts to provide more comprehensive and co ordinated frameworks for water management and conservation. One such initiative is the Florida Water Star cer tification program, ini tially developed by the St. Johns River Water Management District to create water efficiency in landscapes, irrigation systems, household appliances and plumb ing fixtures. The program contin ues to evolve and be embraced by other water management districts. Last September, the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida put forth four priority rec ommendations, including one to create rules or policies that would promote funding for quantifiable water conservation methods. Continued on page 9