Tamarac adopts updated water‑supply work plan; consultants warn of possible raw‑water shortfall by 2035 without mitigation

The commission voted unanimously to transmit an updated Water Supply Facilities Work Plan to state reviewers, incorporating the city's water‑use projections and capital projects into the comprehensive plan.

CHA Consulting project manager Stephanie Bortz and senior engineer Doug Hammond told commissioners the plan uses conservative planning assumptions (for example, 105 gallons per capita per day) over a 10‑ to 20‑year horizon. The work plan shows the city's treatment plant has spare treatment capacity today, but the permitted raw‑water allocation (8,470,000 gallons per day) could be exceeded in future years under planning projections. Bortz said the projected deficit could begin around 2035 absent mitigation.

‘‘There is a projection of a deficit based off of projected populations and your planning value of 108 gallons per capita per day; there is a deficit being shown starting in 2035,’’ Bortz said. Consultants and staff described mitigation options including demand reduction and conservation, request for additional allocation from the South Florida Water Management District, or development of alternative supplies that would require different treatment technologies.

City Manager Tony Palacios and staff emphasized the plan is conservative and that historical per‑capita consumption in Tamarac has been lower than the planning value used. Palacios said the study shows sufficient water for the next five years and that the adoption is a routine update required by statute and regional planning rules.

Why this matters: The adopted work plan is the technical basis for water‑supply planning, capital budgeting and coordination with the regional water district. If demand outpaces permitted allocations, the city will need to act — through conservation, alternate supplies or by securing additional allocation — to support long‑term growth plans.