Publications - Faculty - Recently Submitted Faculty Publications 2008
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Parsons - HortTechnology
Lawrence R. Parsons and David York
Abstract. Reclaimed water use has increased greatly in Florida in the past ten years. The objective of this study is to compare changes in reclaimed water use by different entities over the past several years. From 1986 to 2006, total reuse treatment capacity and flow increased by 278 and 222%, respectively. In the 1980s, reclaimed water was considered to be an urban disposal problem, and cities encouraged use of this water by giving it away for no charge. Because it was free, agricultural irrigation became the largest user of reclaimed water in the mid-1990s and is still one of the larger users. From 1992 to 2006, overall agricultural acreage irrigated with reclaimed water increased by 76%. Acreage of edible (primarily horticultural) crops irrigated with reclaimed water increased during that period but remained relatively constant between 14,000 and 15,800 acres after 1996. Irrigation of other crops increased to 24,468 acres. Golf course irrigation increased by 263% to 58,899 acres while residential irrigation increased over 10,000% to 127,352 acres during this period. Total flow to ground water recharge and industrial uses increased by 132 and 432%, respectively. While agricultural irrigation is still a large user of this water, in 2004, flow to residential, golf course, groundwater recharge, and industrial users surpassed flow to agriculture. Some cities are no longer willing to provide this water to agriculture for no charge as competition from other entities increases. Agriculture may have to deal with less water or develop other water sources.
