Could Central Florida run out of water? A pending plan seeks to avoid that outcome

By the year 2045, demand for water in the region will be up 41%, according to the Central Florida Water Initiative.

A twenty-year water supply plan for the Central Florida region is almost officially ready, following the Central Florida Water Initiative steering committee's approval Friday of the plan's latest draft. The plan analyzes existing water resources and outlines strategies for area stakeholders to try and get ahead of an anticipated water shortage.

By the year 2045, the region including Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Polk and southern Lake counties will likely face a groundwater shortfall of an estimated 96 million gallons of water a day, according to the plan. That estimate is based on projections of future population growth and water demand.