Conference Topics to Focus on Water Issues

LAKELAND | If you want to figure out how to make it through this year's dry season, the next drought and even the next century without running out of water, a day-long conference Oct. 7 may help.

The conference titled "Integrating Water Resource Management - Total Water Management" will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the LTB Auditorium at the USF-PCC campus at U.S. 98 and County Road 540.

Topics will include sustainability, various water supply plans and competing demands for water.

The purpose of the conference is to demonstrate how water issues are as connected as the various elements of the natural water system, such as lakes, rivers and the aquifer.

Most of Polk County lies within what is called the Southern Water-Use Caution Area, an area where decades of heavy water consumption has lowered aquifer levels, creating conditions in which portions of the Peace River have run dry, lake levels have been lowered and wetlands have dried up.

This has resulted in stricter rules on water use.

Officials in Polk County have been struggling for years to find enough water to supply demand for new development, crop irrigation and industrial and power plants.

Increased demand for water has led to some building moratoriums and the development of systems to allocate water to developers.

Sponsors of the conference are the Lakes Education/Action Drive as well as Polk County, Lakeland and Winter Haven.

Speakers will include representatives from various state, federal and local agencies, utilities and private consultants.

Space is limited.

Registration is $25, which includes lunch.

To register, contact LE/AD at Lakeseducation@hotmail.com or 863-221-5323.

[ Tom Palmer can be reached at tom.palmer@theledger.com or 863-802-7535. Read more views on the environment at environment.theledger.com. ]