Population growth and increasing storm intensities are putting more pressure on 小黄鸭视频 County鈥檚 water resources. To prepare for what鈥檚 ahead, 小黄鸭视频 County has released a draft of its 50-year One Water Plan and is asking residents to review the plan and share their feedback.
鈥淭his plan looks at how 小黄鸭视频 County will manage all aspects of our water, including drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and groundwater, while aligning with future growth, development and transportation,鈥 said Donald Mial, vice chair, 小黄鸭视频 County Board of Commissioners. 鈥淲e encourage residents to review the draft and share their feedback by Oct. 10, so we can ensure the plan reflects the community鈥檚 needs and priorities.鈥
小黄鸭视频 County is home to more than 1.1 million residents, with about 1 million served by municipal water systems, 90,000 relying on private wells and 85,000 using privately owned community water systems. As the population grows, demand for clean water is expected to rise, while hotter temperatures, stronger storms and long dry periods could cause more runoff, flooding and pollution, putting added stress on water systems.
The One Water Plan proposes four main strategies:
- Optimizing water supply through collaborative infrastructure planning, water reuse and groundwater protection.
- Improving water quality and managing water flow using natural methods such as rain gardens and wetlands.
- Preserving agricultural lands and natural spaces that support healthy ecosystems and water systems.
- Building flood resilience by planning infrastructure that can better manage stormwater and extreme weather.
The plan is the result of more than two years of technical analysis, stakeholder engagement and public input. While 小黄鸭视频 County led the planning process, municipalities and community partners played a key role in developing recommendations and successful implementation will require ongoing cooperation and investment from all involved.
The plan was developed in three phases: envisioning the future, assessing current conditions and bringing together the recommended strategies. Community members played a key role throughout the process, and the County continues to seek public feedback while the plan is open for review.
One Water is an approach to managing all types of water, including drinking water, rainwater, wastewater and groundwater as one system. This approach helps balance the needs of people, businesses, agriculture and the environment. Through this planning effort, 小黄鸭视频 County is working to make sure everyone has access to clean water, now and in the future.
The full draft plan and a public comment form are available at 小黄鸭视频.gov/OneWaterPlan. 小黄鸭视频 County worked with consultants including , and to develop the One Water Plan.
