The Deep End

Florida may be a peninsula, but it often feels more like an island when it comes to water issues. A combination of population explosion, drought-like weather patterns, and environmental water quality has allowed water consumption to swim its way to the hot-topic surface. Nursery and landscape professionals know this all too well. Water restrictions impact their very livelihoods.

Water restrictions around the state, especially in South Florida, have finally eased lately thanks to tropical-moisture fueled storm systems that have dumped nice amounts of precipitation in the last couple of months. Though the regulations might have softened, the problems are still bubbling. South Florida is coming off the worst drought since 1932 (since recordkeeping began). Recently, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties launched an online discussion and survey to get the pulse of people's attitudes on water conservation. This comes on the heels of a study on water resources in the future. I'm curious to see what the banter and the survey dredge up. After all, this water problem runs deeper than just nursery and landscape businesses. This is not just an industry issue, this is a community/lifestyle issue.

Is there enough water to go around? Well, the water management districts say no. However, I get a different message when I drive by and see irrigation systems in commercial parks and even residences running at full tilt in the middle of a downpour (especially disheartening, during last year's four-day soaker, aka--Tropical Storm Fay). There is plenty of technology out there to prevent such ignorance from happening. There's even low-tech ways like looking out the window to see if it's raining.

Either way, progress and solutions need to be discussed now and put into action before the next "drier-than-normal" season rolls around. The Florida nursery and landscape industry have made great strides to promote smart plant purchases and install more Florida-friendly landscapes. This has been a good start, and needs to continue to make up for those who are not so water wise and those who refuse to be.