TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH IS NOT IMPACTED
BY THE JANUARY 15, 2008 WATER RESTRICTIONS
IMPOSED BY THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

The Town of Highland Beach, including all of its water utility customers, is not being impacted by the January 15, 2008 water restrictions imposed by the Board of Governors of the South Florida Water Management District. The Highland Beach public water supply system relies on the very deep Floridan Aquifer as its source of raw water. The restrictions have been imposed by the District on all other water users that draw their water either from surface sources or from the much shallower Biscayne Aquifer.

Drawing raw water from the Floridan Aquifer and then treating it with a process known as reverse osmosis is a much more expensive method of providing high quality drinking water. It is, however, a much more stable source of raw water. Not having the restrictions placed on customers of the Highland Beach public water supply system is clearly one of the benefits of having such a system; despite the higher cost of treating this source of water.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Town of Highland Beach is not under the District’s watering restrictions, the Town is urging all water users to follow the good practices of water conservation set by the South Florida Water Management District. Although the Town will not be enforcing the watering restrictions, we encourage users to continue conserving water. The Town of Highland Beach does suggest that irrigation be limited to the hours of 4:00 am until 8:00 am twice per week, and only 15 minutes per zone, especially during the winter months when many types of vegetation and landscaping will go dormant; therefore having less of a need for continuous irrigation.

For more water conservation tips, please be sure to log on to the Town’s website at www.ci.highland-beach.fl.us. or the South Florida Water Management District website at www.SFWMD.gov.

Additional Link(s)

Court Order - Phase III Extreme Water Shortage Restrictions. PDF