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  • About
  • Project Ichetucknee
  • Contact Us

Conserve 

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Water escapes the aquifer in only two ways. It is either drawn out by human consumption or it flows naturally from springs. The Ichetucknee Springs Recharge Basin is, in a sense, a giant bathtub. To keep Ichetucknee flowing at historical levels, Columbia County residents should take reasonable steps to reduce groundwater use.

Best Business Practices

Upgrade 

Upgrade to water efficient toilets and shower heads
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​Older toilets use as much as 6 gallons per flush.   Newer, EPA WaterSense-certified toilets use just 1.28 to 1.6 gallons of water. Dual-flush toilets use even less water.

Irrigation

Make wise choices with Irrigation plans


Check Out Suwanne River Water Management's tips for irrigation!
 Click Here!:
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Stop Leaks

Fix leaky toilets, faucets and pipes

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​A slow drip from a leaking faucet can waste as much as 20 gallons of water a day. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day.

​​Implement

Implement timers and rain sensors into your irrigation system

Consider investing in weather-based irrigation controllers that adjust to real weather conditions and provide water only when needed. ​​

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Conservation At Home

Turn off the Tap

Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and while lathering your hands. 

​Faucets run at about 2 gallons of water a minute. Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth, and you can save hundreds of gallons a month.

Avoid & Save

Avoid playing with hoses or sprinklers, it is extremely wasteful of water.

​By not doing this you will cut down on the amount of water wasted immensely  

Reuse or Refill

Designate one glass for your drinking water each day, or refill a water bottle. 

​By doing this you will cut down the number of glasses you have to wash thus saving you way more water  

Encourage/Share

Share/encourage family & friends too practice these water saving tips.


​By bringing water usage to the attention of others you will not only help them save water but help everyone because water is a valuable resource we all must share.

Protect

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Photo from Florida State Parks
The Ichetucknee River area is home to a wide array of wonderful wildlife. The pristine waters and shoreline are home to a magnificent and complex ecosystem of animals and plant life. There are very few places in Florida that can match the flora, fauna and overall beauty of Ichetucknee Springs. Sometimes seen in the area are white-tailed deer, many kinds of turtles, otters, cranes, wild turkeys, raccoons, ducks, beavers, limpkins, tiny tree frogs, owls, great blue herons, woodpeckers, as well as hawks and eagles soaring high above.

Protecting our Wildlife​
Be Mindful 
One of the ways to protect the wildlife of Ichetucknee is to be aware and courteous of them. 
This location is not only a wonderful spot to visit it is also a home for many indigenous plants and animals.
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​​Ways to protect:
Research
By doing basic research of the wildlife located in the Ichetucknee you will have better knowledge of how to handle/deal with them if your paths cross.

Respect
Respect is a very important part in protecting the wildlife. By Not disturbing the animals or destroying the plants Ichetucknee will continue to be a good home. 

Represent
By following these procedures of knowing about, and respecting our wildlife. You are protecting, and representing them so that other visitors may know how treat the Ichetucknee.  
 


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Spread Knowledge
The most effective way of protecting Ichetucknee's wildlife is to be active and spread the word. By picking up stray garbage, and advocating to people to not litter in the Ichetucknee spring we can truly Protect our Wildlife.
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​How to help:
Speak up
By speaking up and voicing your opinion to others you are bringing more awareness and concern to this issue.

Clean up
Participate in or hold your own local trash clean-up to help protect the Ichetucknee and different species of wildlife that live there

Get involved
Write letters to elected officials and government agencies urging them to support policies that will protect the Ichetucknee and the native wildlife.​
Don't Litter
Knowing that the Ichetucknee is also a home for countless wildlife DON'T treat it as your personal dumpster. Throwing garbage in the Ichetucknee is not only harmful to the wildlife it also decreases the quality of the spring water.
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​What to do:
Reduce 
By reducing the amount of disposable goods you consume, you are preserving our natural resources and creating less waste in the environment.

Reuse
 Don’t throw it away if it still has a use! Reuse empty water bottles, Plastic cups, etc. to avoid creating more waste, and using up more natural resources. 

Recycle
Recycle things like water bottles, soda cans, and paper plates can help avoid them being found floating in the Ichetucknee or being stuck inside the home of an
​animal.

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Control

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One of the major problems that affect the Ichetucknee and our drinking water is the mishandling of household toxic waste.

Fighting against Pollution 
Don't Over-fertilize
While fertilizers & pesticides do keep our yards looking healthy and vermin free. There overuse has lead to the decline in the quality of our water supply.  
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How to Avoid:
Consider Florida Friendly Landscaping to reduce the need for fertilizer.

Use slow release fertilizer & follow directions on the packaging.
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Avoid applying fertilizer and pesticides within 10 feet of bodies of water, sinkholes, or drainage ditches, especially if heavy rain is on the way.​​
Discard Chemicals Properly
Household waste includes paints, vehicle fluids, cleaning chemicals, medicine and more! If improperly disposed of, these can seep through the soil and into our drinking water and springs. 
What to do:
Properly labeled household toxic wastes may be disposed of properly by contacting the Columbia County Solid Waste Facility at ​386-752-6050

Check for Toxic Roundup Dates!
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Check Your Septic Tank
While septic tanks do a good job of neutralizing harmful bacteria and viruses from human waste, they are not designed to remove organic nutrients that are harmful to springs.

How to help:
Conserving water
the less water used means is less waste water that your septic system will have to process

​Inspect Your Pump & Septic Tank!
Florida Department of Health advises to inspect your pump and septic tank every four to five years for sludge build-up.

Fix Your Leaks!
For more information on Septic Tank Maintenance Contact the Columbia County Health Department at (386) 758-1058 ​

Partner Links & Helpful Sites

Columbia County Solid Waste Facility: 386-752-6050
Columbia County Health Department: (386)-758-1058
​ FYN Statewide Homeowner Coordinator: 352-273-4518 
 ​Suwannee River Water Management Districts: 386-362-1001
Website Designed By: Jaylun Donaldson, TIP Intern 2019 
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