With Florida’s booming population, demand for clean water is also on the rise. How can we ensure we all have access to water? Reclaimed water can help take the strain off potable water sources by providing treated water that can be used for irrigation, industry, and other non-potable water uses. 

What’s going on?

Florida is experiencing a boom in its population with thousands of people moving to the state each year.  

This presents a problem for many natural resource managers: how can we make sure we have all the water we need for daily activities such as drinking, irrigation, and sanitation? 

Wastewater is a byproduct of daily activities such as bathing, dishwashing, and laundry. It also is made by commercial and industrial sources like manufacturing and production, and runoff from agricultural processes and urban areas. 

Reclaimed water is wastewater that undergoes intensive treatment to make it usable for agricultural, household, or industrial purposes.  

According to the WateReuse Association, approximately 884 million gallons of reclaimed water were used in Florida every day in 2020. 

Why it matters.

Reclaimed water can be used for non-potable water needs, reducing the strain of the demand for drinking water in the state of Florida, such as:

• Irrigate green spaces such as parks, lawns, and highway medians.  

• Urban uses such as toilet flushing, car washing, and decorative lakes. 

• Agricultural purposes such as irrigation for edible crops and nurseries. 

• Wetland creation and aquifer recharge. 

• Industrial uses such as cooling water for processing plants. 

Reclaimed water reduces potable water use, decreases fertilizer application, reduces discharge from wastewater plants into rivers and bays, and promotes a more sustainable and cost-effective water supply. 

What you can do.

Reclaimed water contains nutrients. Using reclaimed water in your home garden may help reduce the amount of fertilizer you use. 

Research your local water use guidelines to see how reclaimed water is being used in your area. 

Overusing reclaimed water is still considered overuse. Practice mindful use when watering your garden with reclaimed water. 

Follow appropriate guidelines when using or encountering reclaimed water. While it is considered safe, it is not treated for human consumption. It may contain pathogens or contaminants. 

You should not drink or swim in reclaimed water. 

Information from UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Southwest Florida Water Management District.