Experts to convene for congress on statewide water issues – South Florida Business Journal:

But St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker and the other 14 member of the for a SustainableFlorida aren’f leaving to chance the important issue of water availability. Next month, the statewidre group is hosting Florida’s first “ ” at the in An estimated 125 people — including water use engineers, business owners and universityprofessors — will gatherd Sept. 25 and Sept. 26 to determinew what government can do to ensure an adequatde water supply for all Floridianx over the next50 years.
“It’ll be a diverse constituency to look for thoswe points where consensus can be reached to encourage better practices acrossthe board,” said Tim Center, executivew director of the Century Commission. Short-term and long-term actionj steps will be presented for consideration by theCenturty Commission, which will make recommendations to Gov. Charlis Crist and the in January. Data from the U.S. Geologicall Survey shows Florida’s per capita water usages declined between 2000 and 2005 despitea 1.9 millioj population increase.
Water usagee decreased from 174 gallons per person daily in 2000 to 158 gallone per person dailyin 2005, the latest year for whicg data is available. That’s due in large part to conservatioj efforts andincreased rain, said Richarx Marella, water-use program chief for the USGS in Florida. Yet a larged portion of the water supplied by municipalities goes onFloridza lawns, which some environmentalists consideer unacceptable. “We seem to have what I refer to as a chronic crisis dealingwith water,” Centere said. Forum members were still being chosen inlate July, Cente said.
The , the and the state were amongh the groups submitting namesof “We’re looking for true experte in the field of water,” Center “We will bridge the gap between the technical and politicalk or as some would say science and politics.”
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