Winter Haven adopts One Water master plan as regional supply dispute escalates

Winter Haven adopts One Water master plan as regional supply dispute escalatesThe Florida municipality has formalized a long-term integrated water management strategy to restore watershed function and reduce reliance on groundwater, coinciding with the Polk Regional Water Cooperative’s legal challenge regarding Alafia River access.

City Commission adopted Resolution R-26-05, establishing the One Water Master Plan developed with Black & Veatch.

The plan centers on the 'Sapphire Necklace' concept to interconnect restored wetlands for aquifer recharge and flood mitigation.

Polk Regional Water Cooperative has filed a lawsuit against Tampa Bay Water regarding Alafia River withdrawals.

Utility service area population is projected to grow from 91,000 to 157,000 by 2070, driving a 60% increase in water demand.

The City of Winter Haven, Florida, has formally adopted a comprehensive One Water Master Plan, signaling a strategic shift toward integrated water resource management as the region faces tightening groundwater regulations and inter-agency conflict over alternative supplies. The City Commission approved Resolution R-26-05 on February 9, 2026, codifying the 'One Water Blueprint.' Developed by Black & Veatch with funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the plan establishes a 50-year framework to manage potable water, wastewater, stormwater, and natural systems as a unified resource. The strategy is driven by projections indicating the utility service area population will grow from 91,000 in 2020 to 157,000 by 2070, increasing water demand by over 60% to approximately 16 million gallons per day (MGD). A central component of the plan is the 'Sapphire Necklace,' a proposed network of interconnected restored wetlands and conservation lands designed to enhance aquifer recharge and flood resilience within the Peace Creek Watershed. The blueprint outlines twelve key actions, including restoring watershed storage, enabling water-efficient land development, and aligning the city’s capital improvements with sustainability goals. The city’s five-year capital improvements budget for water-related infrastructure was forecast at over $166 million in the planning documents. The adoption of the local master plan occurs against a backdrop of intensifying regional water scarcity. During the meeting, Commissioner Nathaniel J. Birdsong, Jr., who serves as chairman of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC), reported that the cooperative has filed a lawsuit against Tampa Bay Water regarding withdrawals from the Alafia River. The dispute centers on a July 2025 permit modification by the Southwest Florida Water Management District that increased Tampa Bay Water’s allowance from the river, which originates in Polk County. Birdsong noted that the District has indicated current groundwater pumping levels are not sustainable for projected growth, necessitating access to surface water alternatives. Tampa Bay Water has utilized the Alafia since 2003 to supplement the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir, but Polk officials argue the new allocation precludes their own future use. “The Alafia River... Tampa Bay Water wants—they have been granted a permit to get basically 95% of the available water, which leaves nothing for us,” Birdsong told the commission. He added that mediation is forthcoming. The One Water Master Plan aims to mitigate these external supply risks by maximizing local water budgets through nature-based solutions and reuse. The plan identifies specific capital projects, including the Bradco Farms Wetland Storage Project and the investigation of the East Peace Creek Project, to increase surface water storage and infiltration.