Within 20 years, North Florida might have to remove salt from seawater to provide enough fresh water for residents and businesses.
That was one of the comments made Monday by Hans Tanzler III, St. Johns River Water Management District executive director, to members of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville.
He said the desalinization alternative to pumping water out of the ground and Florida’s aquifer comes with a cost. Groundwater costs about $2 per 1,000 gallons, fresh water made from sea water costs about $10 per 1,000 gallons.
“It’s in our interest to keep our conservation hats on,” said Tanzler.
Five water management districts were created in 1972 by the state Legislature through the Water Resources Act. The St. Johns district comprises 18 counties in North and Central Florida. It extends from the Georgia state line to Vero Beach and includes Jacksonville, Gainesville, Ocala and Orlando.
Tanzler said 4.7 million people live in the district.
He said the St. Johns district has an $82 million annual budget and is funded by a one-third of 1 mill property tax levy.
The organization processes all permits for “land disturbance and water withdrawal,” Tanzler said.
He said Florida differs from other states because no one owns the water on their property and a developer must apply to the water management district for the use of the water.
Tanzler said he and the 600 employees of the St. Johns district work to make the permitting process as streamlined as possible.
“When developers have an opportunity, they deserve an answer to their permit application,” he said.
Asked the district’s position on the proposal to deepen the channel of the St. Johns River in Duval County, Tanzler said the project is under the control of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“They are federal and we have no power over them at all. Our relationship with the Corps is good,” he said.
On the potential increase of the river’s salinity level if the dredging is performed, Tanzler said the level of salt in the river all the way to Naval Air Station Jacksonville depends on the tides twice a day and is almost the same as in the Atlantic Ocean.
“Salinity is more an issue in Green Cove Springs and Palatka,” he said.
“We care about the river. It’s an environmental asset. Our job is to provide water,” Tanzler said.
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