Water-Related News

Lake Wales joins Florida Water Star program

Lake Wales looks to the future by conserving water through new building requirements.

City of Lake Wales commission adopted the Florida Water Star? certification program, initiated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The program requires a builder to obtain an official certificate that validates a newly constructed house or commercial building includes water-efficient appliances, low-flow plumbing fixtures, micro-irrigation systems and water quality benefits from best management practices in landscapes.

Lake Wales is the first municipality in Polk County to require all new construction to achieve Florida Water Star certification through a formal third-party inspection.

“We plan to grow the city responsibly by conserving the water we source from the upper Floridan aquifer,” City Manager James Slaton said.

A homeowner with a Florida Water Star? certified house may save up to $530 on annual utility bills and up to 48,000 gallons of water each year. Owners of commercial buildings will save even more water.

“As we catch this at the point of new construction, we can stop a tremendous loss of water right at the time the home or commercial building comes out of the ground,” District Sr. Government Affairs Regional Manager Cindy Rodriguez said.

It costs a builder between $700 to $1,400 to equip a house to be Florida Water Star? certified. Upon inspection, builders may apply for a $1000 rebate, while rebates last.

The Florida Water Star? certified program is the City’s third water conservation program.

Residents may help reduce water usage through two complimentary City conservation programs, in partnership with the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, Water Conservation Kit Program and Wireless Rain Sensor Program. Select this link to request a water conservation kit and scroll to the Lake Wales option. https://prwcwater.org/water-conservation/rebates-incentives/#

To learn more about how you can help conserve water, follow this link: https://prwcwater.org/water-conservation/conservation-tips/

The water conservation kits are provided by the City of Lake Wales and Polk Regional Water Cooperative.