Vol. 125 (2012): Proceedings of the Florida State Horticultural Society
Posters

Volunteer Mobile Irrigation Lab: Improving Irrigation Efficiency

Dee Dee Dilger-Jacobson
University of Florida, IFAS, Highlands County Extension, Sebring, FL 33875

Published 2012-12-01

Keywords

  • mobile irrigation,
  • efficiency

Abstract

Today, Florida residents consume about 8.3 billion gal of water per day. University of Florida experts predict the state will grow 21% in the next decade. Between those residents and nearly 70 million tourists a year, total water demand is projected to reach 9.3 billion gal per day. Furthermore, parts of Florida, including much of Central, South and Southwest Florida, are currently experiencing drought conditions. Records show that 2006 and 2007 were the driest back-to-back calendar years since 1932. In 2008, The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (SWFWMD) estimated water use report stated public supply water users, including domestic self-supply, constituted the largest single category withdrawing an estimated 542 million gal each day. Residential irrigation represents the single largest use of water from our municipal water supplies. This water use has seriously impacted the aquifer that is the source of our drinking water and water that supports Florida’s springs and
other ecosystems.