LIVE OAK, FLA., MARCH 26, 2025 – More than $5.7 million in funding has been approved for a trio of alternative water supply (AWS) projects that will help strengthen water resources across North Florida. 

These projects are part of an effort to reduce water use from the Floridan Aquifer or to develop region-specific water sources that offer an alternative to traditional ground and surface water sources. Alternative water sources, such as reclaimed or recycled water, saltwater or brackish water, and storm water, also help to make communities less susceptible to the effects of drought. These water sources also diversify Florida’s water supply while reducing its dependence on fresh groundwater resources.   

The District Governing Board accepted the project funding requests in 2024 and sent them to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for approval. 

“Maximizing the use of alternative water sources is vital to ensuring smart, sustainable growth in North Florida. We appreciate that our Governor, Legislature, and FDEP help advance projects like these to strengthen Florida’s water resources to continue to meet the growing demands of our residents,” said Hugh Thomas, executive director of the District. 

Projects include: 

• Santa Fe Basin Land Acquisition and Recharge – SRWMD – $3 million – This land acquisition project would provide storage and recharge for the MFLs of the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers through the diversion of excess water flows. 
• Groundwater Augmentation through surficial features – SRWMD – $500,000 – This project will provide recharge to the Upper Floridan Aquifer to benefit the MFLs across the District, with priority focus on the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers and regional water supply planning areas. This includes, but is not limited to, debris removal from karst features, enhanced capacity of surface water features, and management of stormwater and other high flow events. 
• Groundwater Recharge Wetland Project – Gainesville Regional Utilities - $2.2 million – GRU is constructing a groundwater recharge wetland that will provide recharge and reduce total nitrogen levels and help to achieve the MFL recovery and prevention requirements for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers and priority springs.  

The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties. 

For more information about the District, visit www.MySuwanneeRiver.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. 

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