The Water Savings Incentive Program (WaterSIP) was created to foster water conservation efforts of public and private water providers or users within the SFWMD boundaries, defined in Subsection 373.069(2)(e) of the Florida Statutes (F.S.). Projects that use technology to implement water conservation are under consideration for funding through this program. Award recipients are reimbursed for up to 50% of the total project cost with a maximum reimbursement of $50,000. Types of projects that have received funding in previous years include automatic flushing devices for hydrants, indoor plumbing retrofits, large area irrigation controls, and soil moisture and rain sensor technology for irrigation systems. Pilot or demonstration projects are not eligible for funding. The District continues to expand participation by encouraging industrial, commercial, institutional water users, as well as homeowners’ associations to apply.
Look for the WaterSIP application for the 2012 fiscal year later this spring. Below is a link to the 2011 fiscal year WaterSIP application. This application cannot be used for the 2012 fiscal year. It is intended to be used as a reference to program standards and requirements in anticipation of the FY2012 application release. Actual standards and requirements for the 2012 fiscal year program may vary slightly.
From 2003 to 2009, $7.8 million in projects qualifying for the District's Water Supply Incentive Program (WaterSIP) were partially funded. The District contributed approximately $2.1 million toward 116 projects that produced a water savings of 2,102 million gallons of water per year. Below are examples of funded projects:
At Hydro Fresh Farms in Fort Pierce, plants are grown in vertical compartments that provide a much greater planting density while using less water than traditional farming methods. A project to install 2,000 of the compartments, called hydro-stackers, increased the farm's capacity by 40,000 plants, while producing an estimated water savings of 39.95 million gallons per year over conventional methods of irrigation. The project was completed in 2008 for a total project cost of $120,144, including $25,000 in South Florida Water Management District funding.
Lake Nona, a planned community in southeast Orlando, is using reclaimed water and state-of-the-art irrigation controls in a water management system to meet both high- and low-flow water demands. The project was undertaken in partnership with the City of Orlando and produces an estimated water savings of 4.15 million gallons per year. The project was completed in 2008 for a total project cost of $191,337, including $47,834 in South Florida Water Management District funding.
The School District of Lee County has replaced older plumbing fixtures with high-efficiency fixtures, including toilets, urinals, aerators and faucets, at three high schools. The project was undertaken in partnership with Florida Power & Light and produces an estimated water savings of 5.9 million gallons per year. The project was completed in 2007 for a total project cost of $480,210, including $50,000 in South Florida Water Management District funding.
St. Lucie County has replaced older toilets and showerheads with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures at three Fort Pierce Housing Authority developments. The project produces an estimated water savings of 26 million gallons per year. The project was completed in 2007 for a total project cost of $179,465, including $50,000 in South Florida Water Management District funding.
Port LaBelle Utilities has installed automatic fire hydrant flushing devices that save water by controlling the process in a more uniform way than when it is done manually. The project produces an estimated water savings of 8.4 million gallons per year. The project was completed in 2007 and fully funded by the South Florida Water Management District for $49,961.
Miami-Dade Water and Sewer has replaced older showerheads, toilets and aerators with high-efficiency plumbing fixtures in 1,000 homes built prior to 1985. This program targeted and benefited homeowners who qualify for the Homestead Senior Exemption. The project produces an estimated water savings of 23.4 million gallons per year. The project was completed in 2009 at a total project cost of $388,394, including $25,000 in South Florida Water Management District funding.
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