OKEECHOBEE – May 17-23 is WateReuse Week in Okeechobee County.

At the April 23 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commission, Libby Pigman of the South Florida Water Management District said with current drought conditions, water managers are acutely aware of the need to conserve water resources.

She said the navigation locks on the north side of Lake Okeechobee were closed on April 21 due to the low water level in the lake. When the lake level is below 12 feet, those locks cannot be used.

Commissioners passed a resolution stating:"Safe, clean and sustainable water resources are essential to Florida’s environment, economy, citizens, and visitors.

“Although Florida’s water supplies are finite, the state’s population and need for water resources continues to increase; and water reuse provides a means for conserving and augmenting Florida’s precious water resources.

“Florida has established the encouragement and promotion of water reuse as state objectives in Chapters 373 and 403, Florida Statutes.

“Florida has risen to be a national leader in water reuse, reusing approximately 958 million gallons of reclaimed water per day, more than 56% of the wastewater treated, to conserve freshwater supplies and recharge our freshwater resources.

“Florida’s permitted reuse capacity is more than 1.6 billion gallons per day (approximately 62 percent of Florida’s total permitted capacity for all domestic wastewater treatment facilities).

“May, typically a dry month when water demands are high, is a good time to educate the public on how they can help save Florida’s precious water resources through water reuse and WateReuse Florida, the state section of the WateReuse Association, has proclaimed the week of May 17-23, 2026, as Florida WateReuse Week.”