What is a consumptive water use permit?

A consumptive water use permit grants the holder the right to withdraw a specific amount of water from aquifers or surface water sources (such as canals, lakes, or rivers) for reasonable and beneficial purposes. This water can be utilized for public supply (drinking water), agricultural and nursery plant irrigation, golf course irrigation, commercial activities, dewatering and mining operations, and power generation. However, domestic uses, home irrigation, and water used for firefighting are not covered by these permits.

Consumptive water use permits emphasize water conservation to prevent wasteful practices, such as the reuse of reclaimed water (treated wastewater). Additionally, these permits establish limits on the amount of water that can be withdrawn from each location within an aquifer or from surface water sources. These restrictions safeguard existing residents’ water supplies and protect aquifers from saltwater intrusion damage, as well as ensure the sustainability of surface water sources by preventing them from drying up.

Once a consumptive water use permit is issued by the District, SFWMD water use compliance staff diligently monitor water usage to ensure that the permit’s limiting conditions are adhered to. Scientists and environmental analysts meticulously evaluate pumpage and monitoring data, including chloride levels, water levels, turbidity, and other relevant parameters. They also review compliance reports such as calibrations, wetland monitoring, unaccounted for water loss, and 10-year compliance assessments. In response to instances of non-compliance, they promptly investigate and address the issues. Furthermore, on-site site inspections play a crucial role in determining compliance and documenting project activities, withdrawal facilities, and any unauthorized water usage.

Types of consumptive water use permits

The South Florida Water Management District issues general and individual consumptive water use permits. During the application evaluation process, the following factors are considered:

– Is the proposed use reasonable and beneficial, as defined in Section 373.019 of the Florida Statutes?

– Will it interfere with other water users in the vicinity?

– Is it consistent with the public interest, including potential harm to the environment, saltwater intrusion, wetlands, pollution movement, and so on?

Consumptive water use permits are granted for a specific duration and must be renewed before their expiration to continue water usage.

Permit fees

The fees for these permits can range from $350 for an individual permit up to $11,500 though there are exceptions that allow you to work under a general permit for no fee.

Fees apply to new permit applications, renewals, and transfers except under the specific no fee conditions mentioned above.

Central Florida Water Initiative’s handbook for permit applicants

A handbook was created by Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) to help applicatant navigate the process of permitting and this handbook is applicable to permits in the jurisdictions of FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

2025 Handbook of Florida Water Regulation: Consumptive Use Permits

Another handbook was created by the University of Florida IFAS Extension which was designed specifically to provide “an accurate, current, and authoritative summary” of the laws of the United States and Florida that relate to the agricultural use of water in Florida. You can download a copy here.

Pre-application meeting requests

Did you know that scheduling a meeting with SFWMD permit application review staff before submitting an application is free? This can save you time and potentially lead to quicker permit processing. During the meeting, project specifics will be discussed, staff will answer any questions you may have, and they’ll provide you with information on the required information to complete the application process.

To schedule a meeting, directly with the South Florida Water Management District you can email wupreapp@sfwmd.gov or call (561) 682-2795

Permit Application drop-Off Locations

Online

• All Counties
  RegPermitting
   

In-Person

• Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties
  SFWMD Headquarters
  Building B-1
  3301 Gun Club Road
  West Palm Beach, FL 33406
  Phone: (561) 682-6736
   
• Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Lee counties
  Fort Myers Service Center
  2301 McGregor Boulevard
  Fort Myers, FL 33901
  Phone: (239) 338-2929
   
• Glades, Highlands, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties
  Okeechobee Service Center
  316 NW 5th Street
  Okeechobee, FL 34972
  Phone: (863) 462-5260
   
• Orange, Osceola and Polk counties 
  Orlando Service Center
  7345 Greenbriar Parkway
  Orlando, FL 32819
  Phone: (407) 858-6100

Direct contacts for Water Use Permitting

• Charlotte, Collier and Lee counties
  Sean Robertson, P.G.
  (239) 338-2929 x7719
  
• Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach (west of 20 Mile Bend) and St. Lucie counties
  Alicja Wojnar, P.G.
  (561) 682-2229
  
• Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach (east of 20 Mile Bend – Townships 41 through 43) and Polk counties
  Nicholas Vitani, P.G.
  (561) 682-2133
  
• Pre-Application Meeting Requests 
  wupreapp@sfwmd.gov

Alternative irrigation scheduling requests

If you need to alter your irrigation schedule reach out to Jim Harmon at (561) 682-6777

Using Reclaimed Water

If you are going to use reclaimed water for your water use needs then you don’t need a permit for that water use. An exception to this rule is that if you then discharge that reclaimed water into an unlined pond, lake or surface water management system, you are then commingling that water. If you then use that commingled water, a permit is required to ensure that the use of that commingled water is not harmful to the water resources of that area.

What happens if you use less water than planned?

If you start to use less water than you are permitted to use under the permit, you do not need to modify the permit. In fact, the 2025 Handbook of Florida Water Regulation states that you may not modify the permit if the only reason is that you started using less water. However, if you start to use more water, you will need to modify the permit.

Continuous Monitoring Requirements

After the District issues a consumptive water use permit, SFWMD compliance staff monitor permitted activities to ensure all limiting conditions are being met. This includes scientific review of pumpage data, water quality indicators (chlorides, turbidity, water levels), and periodic compliance reports covering meter calibrations, wetland monitoring, unaccounted water loss, and 10-year compliance milestones. Field inspections supplement this oversight by documenting withdrawal facilities, project activities, and any unpermitted water use on-site.

Section 4.1.1 of the Applicant’s Handbook for Water Use Permit Applications states that all permittees with an average daily allocation of more than 100,000 gallons, or if irrigation in the South Dade County Water Use Basin (as designated in Figure 21-11, Chapter 40E-21, Florida Administrative Code [FAC]) with an average daily allocation of greater than 300,000 gallons, to monitor and report withdrawal quantities from each withdrawal facility or point of diversion.

Monitoring Reports Can Be Submitted Online

Compliance reports can be submitted online through RegPermitting. To get started, create an account or log in if you already have one, then select “Submit Compliance Information” and follow the on-screen prompts. If you would like assistance setting this up please reach out to us at MORAN ROCKS LLC.

Calibrating Water Use Flow Monitor

SFWMD has provided a guide on how to calibrate your flow monitoring equipment. It starts by asking what conditions the flow meter will be working under. What is the type of facility, the range of flow rates you are anticipating, the costs associated with one method or another, the adaptability of the chosen system, and whether you need continuous or periodic monitoring of flow. All of these conditions affect the choice of devices and the cost of maintenance of the system over time.

Acceptable Accuracy Range

The methods discussed in the calibration handbook have a typical accuracy of ±2-5% but the handbook warns that those ranges reflect the controlled setting of the laboratory and that the best method should be selected based on the filed conditions. There is plenty of wiggle room however, as the required calibration range for monitoring under the consumptive water usage permit is ±10%.

SFWMD rules require calibration of each water use accounting system every five years. If modifications to the system occur within that interval, however, recalibration is required before the next scheduled date. Repairs or changes to a motor, pump, or pump station configuration, for instance, necessitate recalibration to maintain accounting accuracy — particularly where flow is determined using a pump curve. Similarly, any change to weir dimensions requires recalculation of the weir equation to preserve accurate flow measurements across the structure.

For hydraulic structures, a word of caution: shifts in a rating curve typically reflect a change in the geometry of the primary measuring structure, not simply instrument drift. Generating a new rating curve alone may therefore be insufficient; the underlying structural issue must first be corrected. All repairs should conform to the original design requirements of the structure.

Training and Requirements

The flow verification methods can be performed by anyone, as long as they have an adequate level of training or relevant expertise. Some methods, however, involve complex devices or procedures that may require a Florida-registered Professional Engineer.

If you would rather have a professional handle it please contact us and we will help!

Documentation of Flow Verification

Each flow verification method in this section specifies required conditions and a test procedure. All required conditions for the chosen method must be satisfied before flow verification begins. A thorough record of those conditions — along with any other factors that may have influenced the test — should be documented and submitted to the SFWMD together with the completed flow verification form. Field notes, photographs, scaled drawings, and diagrams are all appropriate means of capturing relevant site conditions.

Performing Flow Verification During the Dry Season

Because supplemental water demand is highest during the dry season, SFWMD prefers that flow verification be conducted between January 1st and May 31st, which represents the dry season under normal rainfall conditions in South Florida.

The procedures described in this handbook assume a typical dry season in a normal rainfall year. If a calibration or recalibration falls during a year with a declared water shortage, SFWMD may require additional flow verifications to capture those more extreme conditions; users may also elect to conduct such verifications on their own initiative.

It is also recognized that certain flow measurement methods may need to be adapted for specific withdrawal locations or operational practices. Additionally, published procedures, calculations, and flow calculation aids sometimes vary, as researchers periodically release minor refinements to standard equations and methods. Modifications to the procedures in the handbook are acceptable so long as they are supported by proper references. These modifications should be submitted to SFWMD staff for approval prior to changing methodologies. Modifications lacking established references must be justified by the user and reviewed and approved by SFWMD staff before implementation.