Reclaiming Water: A Series on Smart and Sustainable Choices

Did you know? The water you use to irrigate your lawn could be reclaimed water—water recycled from wastewater! Sounds odd? Maybe. But it is one of Florida’s best tools for protecting our freshwater supply.

1. What is “Reclaiming Water”?

The UF/IFAS Extension in Seminole County is taking the lead in reclaimed irrigation water education, a win for the environment and your landscape. That is why the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in Seminole County has launched “Reclaiming Water”—an informative and fun public education program designed to help you make the most of this valuable resource!

Reclaimed irrigation water signage, at Seminole County Extension. — Signage for reclaimed water irrigation.

UF/IFAS Extension employees Tina McIntyre, the Florida Friendly Landscaping™ Agent, and Jacob Burris, the Reclaimed Water Educator, are educating the public on behaviors surrounding reclaimed water resources.

2. Why Does Reclaimed Water Matter?

Florida’s freshwater supply is precious and every drop counts. Reclaimed water is treated to the secondary level or beyond at the wastewater treatment facility—distinguished by purple pipes and signage. Reclaim can keep your landscape green while easing the demand on natural drinking water sources. When appropriately used, reclaimed water can conserve the fresh water in our aquifer, reducing the amount of fertilizer you need to apply to our landscape. Reclaimed water does contain some nitrogen and phosphorus already in it. That is why overwatering can waste this valuable resource, with runoff and overloading of waterways with excess nutrients, causing algal blooms and poor water quality.

3. What is in it for you?

Whether you’re a homeowner, HOA leader, business owner, or just someone who cares about Florida’s water, you have a role to play!
Attendees will learn how to locate and address landscape inefficiencies and implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) for irrigation. Grant funding has allowed us to graciously offer randomly selected participants to receive the ‘Irrigation Conservation Kit,’ valued at $50! It contains a digital weather station, rain gauge, calibration kit, soil moisture meter, and a t-shirt, making landscape water conservation accessible. Together, our goal is for the “Reclaiming Water” program to ensure a long-lasting, positive change in how the community uses reclaimed and potable irrigation water.

Interactive Workshops & Webinars – Learn how reclaimed water works, why it’s important, and how to use it wisely.

FREE Irrigation Conservation Kits – Attend a workshop, participate, and enter for the potential to win 1 of 35 kits valued at $50!

Great news, all workshops and webinars are approved for Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscapers Association (FNGLA), Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and FL Water Star Accredited Professionals Continuing Educational Units (CEUs)!