WRWSA Regional Water Supply Master Plan & Updates - Withlacoochee Regional Water Supply Authority

WRWSA - Ensuring water supplies for the future of the region

Background

In mid-1986, the Authority authorized a Regional Master Plan for the Withlacoochee area. The combined team of Russell and Axon / Seaburn and Robertson, Consulting Engineers / Hydrologists completed the plan in 1988 utilizing County Water Supply Plans as building blocks in developing the regional plan. In 1994, the Authority authorized an update to the 1988 Plan. The combined team of Coastal Engineering and Hartman and Associates completed the Plan update in 1996.

1996 WRWSA Regional Water Supply Master Plan Recommendations

Nearly ten years had elapsed since the completion of the 1996 WRWSA RWS Master Plan, when WRWSA determined it was necessary to update the regional water supply planning process due to the fact that a number of initiatives took place on a state, regional and local level that impacted the way water supplies were planned and developed in this region thereby reducing the viability and usability of the 1996 updated plan. These included:

Updated groundwater modeling that improved the ability to determine impacts from existing and proposed groundwater withdrawals;
The inclusion of the "local sources first" policy into Florida Statutes;
Establishment of Minimum Flows and Levels (MFL) by the SWFWMD and development of an MFL priority list that targets numerous waterbodies and water courses within the WRWSA over the next five years;
An ever-increasing population and burgeoning water needs within the WRWSA; and
Requirements that local governments plan for the necessary infrastructure, including water, within the Comprehensive Planning process, to meet this growth.

The Withlacoochee region encompassing Citrus, Hernando, Marion and Sumter counties and the City of Ocala had begun to experience tremendous population growth, competition among major water users and demand on the area’s groundwater resources. At the same time, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) was in the process of establishing Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) on waterbodies, watercourses and springs in the "northern district", which made future water supply development ever more challenging. Fortunately, the Withlacoochee region was still considered to be "ahead of the curve" in terms of water supply availability and if approached correctly and comprehensively, water supplies could be planned and developed in a manner to meet these demands. Furthermore, improved water supply efficiency might be achieved through additional or enhanced water conservation measures implemented by the WRWSA’s member governments.

WRWSA Master Regional Water Supply Planning & Implementation Program (MRWSP&IP)

The Authority approved in November 2005 an on-going, comprehensive, multi-year planning, design and construction program to ensure that the region was engaged in a long-term water supply development process. The new program was designed to meet growing demand, protect water resource and environmental attributes, and was to be completed in a cost-effective and timely manner. This comprehensive program was entitled, Withlacoochee Regional Water Supply Authority (WRWSA) Master Regional Water Supply Planning & Implementation Program (MRWSP&IP or Program).

The WRWSA MRWSP&IP was comprised of the following phases:

2005 WRWSA Master Regional Water Supply Plan Update (Phase I)

Phase I of the MRWSP&IP — WRWSA 2005 Master Regional Water Supply Plan Update (RWSPU) — was initiated in November 2005 and co-funded between the WRWSA and the District. This component of the overall Program was intended to update the 1996 Master Regional Water Supply Plan.

The plan update identified existing and future water supply demands and determined a menu of potential water supply options including both traditional and alternative water supplies, which could meet future projected regional demand. The menu of potential water supply options included a range of regional and sub-regional approaches. The plan considered water conservation alternatives as well as general opportunities for optimizing reclaimed water as practical approaches for ameliorating water supply demand. The WRWSA also investigated potential water source options including brackish water desalination, offshore springs, seawater desalination, and surface water.

For your convenience the RWSPU is divided into four parts for faster download:

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

2010 Feasibility Analysis of Proposed Water Supply Projects, Reclaimed Water Optimization and Water Conservation within the WRWSA (Phase II)

The next phase of the MRWSP&IP — 2010 Feasibility Analysis of Proposed Water Supply Projects, Reclaimed Water Optimization and Water Conservation — was initiated in May 2007. Phase II included additional detailed feasibility analyses for the potential water resource options identified in Phase I.

Phase II’s purpose was to develop conceptual designs for the identified projects, detailed feasibility analyses of the projects, project prioritization, project selection and coordination with local partners to move towards project implementation. Potential water source options that had been identified in the RWSPU were evaluated to assess environmental impacts, ability to permit, public perception, long-term viability of source, relative cost and time required to implement, conflicts with existing sources, ability to serve multiple users, and compatibility with current utility systems. Factors such as proximity to a contaminated source, proximity to wellhead or surface water resource protection zone, and limitations imposed by adopted Minimum Flows or Levels (MFLs) were evaluated.

Phase II further described and prioritized proposed projects based on a more in-depth analysis. This analysis included project sizing, cost-estimation, cost-benefit analyses, timing / scheduling and optimization of potential projects. The Phase II component included determining regional and sub-regional approaches to water supply development and locating local governments and private entities to partner with each other and/or the Authority on water projects, reclaimed water distribution and water conservation programs.

2010 Feasibility Analysis of Proposed Water Supply Projects…
(Please note this file is 415 pages and may take time to download)

For your convenience this document has been divided into the following parts for faster download:

Table of Contents & Executive Summary

Introduction, Chapters 1 & 2

Chapter 3

Chapters 4 - 7

Chapters 8 - 10

Chapters 11 - 13, References, Appendices

Northern District Modeling & Technical Support for Local Communities (Phase VII) - ongoing

Concurrently with Phase II, the WRWSA also initiated Phase VII of the Program – Northern District Modeling & Technical Support for Local Communities. This involves providing qualified expertise and technical support to local member communities which will help them to prepare, analyze and interpret technical modeling data.

Utilizing the SWFWMD’s "Northern District Model" the WRWSA will retain a consultant to help interpret preliminary modeling results for local communities otherwise lacking in this type of expertise. This type of information will allow local communities to better plan for capital improvements and densities for future growth and development. This technical support to the region’s local communities may be staggered over several fiscal years depending upon demonstrated need.

Phases II and VII Kick Off Meeting Powerpoint Presentation

Northern District Modeling Powerpoint Presentation

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