Noteworthy Water News for January 2008

2008 Noteworthy Water News facts links:

North and South Florida battle for drinking water from 2 rivers.
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080114/D8U5K15G0.html- AP Press News Link.
Jacksonville and Orlando want water rights to the Ocklawaha and St. Johns River.
The Orlando district developed the proposal after determining that areas of Central Florida could reach their groundwater limits within five years, and that by 2025 it will need 200 million gallons of water a day from alternative sources.
Partly because of the fast growth of central Florida, half a billion gallons of water are being pumped out of the deep underground Floridan aquifer each day.

Los Angeles, Orange County, California will soon drink treated Sewage water.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-reclaim2jan02,0,7789563.story?coll=la-home-center - LA Times News Link
Public acceptance was also helped by the fact that since 1976 the county has been pumping about 15 million gallons of reclaimed sewer water a day into the groundwater basin to protect it from saltwater intrusion.
For decades, the aquifer has been plagued by saltwater that flows in as fresh water is pumped out of underground reservoirs along the coast. The condition can be checked and reduced by injecting treated water back into the ground to act as a shield.

Environmental Groups vs. SFWMD and regulations on Pollution and Sewage Dumping into Lake Okeechobee, Florida – ENS News service Link
http://www.nbc4.com/news/14967385/detail.html
Friends of the Everglades, Florida Wildlife Federation, and Fishermen Against Destruction of the Environment, all represented by Earthjustice - contend that millions of gallons of polluted water coming off of half a million acres of sugar cane fields and cities are pumped into Lake Okeechobee by the South Florida Water Management District.

South Florida’s tougher new water restrictions Begin January 15, 2008- Sun Sentinel
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1214214/south_floridas_tougher_new_water_restrictions_will_start_tuesday/index.html
"We have never seen water levels this low, this early in the dry season," said water district spokesman Jesus Rodriguez. "These (restrictions) are about the immediate water supply concerns."

Water Quality Monitoring for Coastal Palm Beach County- YourHub News link
http://tc.yourhub.com/Jupiter/Stories/News/About-Town/Story~415366.aspx While contemplating where to start with the Coral Reef Initiative, much research has led me to understand that Florida does not have an existing Water Quality Monitoring program for the Inlets and Beaches. No program- No Funding- No-reporting. What a shame. A recent DEP report shows that of 1 in 5 Inland Water Basins, 272 bodies of water in Florida are classified as Impaired. (X5 = >1000 bodies).