Changes in Water Reuse in Florida Agriculture.

Florida is one of the largest producers and users of municipal reclaimed water in the U.S.  Municipal water reuse has increased greatly in the past two decades. In the 1980s, reclaimed water (treated wastewater) was considered to be an urban disposal problem, and cities encouraged use of this water by giving it away for no charge.  Because it was free, agricultural irrigation became the largest user of reclaimed water in the mid-1990s.  Total reuse flow in Florida more than doubled from 1990 to 2008 and is currently 667 mgd (2.524 million m³).  Reuse flow to edible crops peaked in 2000 at 35 mgd (132,489 m³) but has since declined to 13 mgd (49,210 m³).  Reuse flow to residential areas and golf courses surpassed agricultural irrigation in 2002 and has increased greatly since then. Edible crop irrigation with reuse water currently represents 2% of the total reuse flow.  Some cities are no longer willing to provide this water to agriculture for no charge as competition from other entities increases.  Agriculture may have to pay for reclaimed water, use less water, or develop other water sources.