Florida Senate Bill 552, also known as the âComprehensive Water Bill,â was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott in 2016. This law is a big deal because it’s the most important environmental law in more than ten years. It will have a lasting impact on how the state manages its water resources. The law includes new protections for springs, rewards for saving water, and improvements to how Florida manages its water. This means that how Florida deals with its water will keep changing in the future. Florida’s economy relies on having enough water for people, the environment, and future growth. We’ve been doing pretty well so far by using water more efficiently and improving water quality. But the state government says we need to keep working to meet the growing demand for water. They passed a new law, the Comprehensive Water Bill, that affects how we manage and protect water. It’s important for everyone to understand what the law says and when it will take effect. The new water bill in Florida covers a lot of things, but here are the main points:
1. Protecting Floridaâs springs by creating priority focus areas and setting deadlines for water quality and supply regulations.
2. The Central Florida Water Initiative aims to manage groundwater resources on a larger scale.
3. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection will make conservation land information available online and on a mobile app.
4. Laws related to permitting in the northern Everglades have been updated for water quality.
5. Water supply plans will be updated to include new water recovery strategies and projects to protect water levels.
6. Changes to regulatory structures will encourage water conservation and prioritize users closest to the source.
7. Other changes include monitoring water usage, considering preferred water supply sources, and assessing water supply and quality every year.
In short, the new water bill aims to protect Floridaâs water resources, improve water infrastructure planning, and address water supply and quality issues throughout the state. Florida has a new law that will bring in new rules and processes for businesses, local government, and environmental groups to follow. This includes new rules for evaluating and managing the flow and quality of springs, as well as regulations on fertilizer use by local governments. High school students in Florida should keep an eye on how these new rules are implemented and how they might impact their community and environment. The new law has changed how water permits are issued, with a focus on preventing harm to water resources. Water management districts will have to update their plans and consider input from stakeholders. There are also new regulations to encourage practices like water farming. The new water quality law in Florida includes provisions for enforcing plans to improve water quality, requiring local governments to create plans to fix septic tanks, and giving an important role to a government office in managing water supply and funding. This could lead to better water infrastructure investments for the state. In Florida, the Comprehensive Water Law affects water availability, quality, and supply at all government levels. Future laws may focus on water conservation, using aquifers for storage, and funding spring restoration. Stakeholders should watch for updates from FDEP and water management districts.
Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/the-comprehensive-water-law-its-provisions-and-significance/
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