St. Johns River Water Management District

What St. Johns River Water Management District does

The St. Johns River Water Management District is a Florida state governmental agency established in 1972 by the state Legislature through Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, holding exclusive statutory authority over water resource management across 18 counties covering approximately 12,283 square miles (about 21% of Florida's land area) in northeast and east-central Florida. The District operates under a nine-member Governing Board appointed by Florida's governor and is responsible for water quality, water supply, flood protection, and natural systems management. Its core functions include permitting (Environmental Resource Permits, Consumptive Use Permits, water well construction permits via the ePermit portal), Minimum Flows and Levels regulatory frameworks, water shortage declarations, cost-share funding programs, and management of 778,316 acres of public conservation lands, 115 miles of flood control levees, and 12 major flood control structures.

The District's technology stack combines GIS mapping platforms, hydrologic monitoring systems, water quality testing infrastructure, remote sensing, and machine learning applications applied to plant community mapping. Its operational footprint spans a Palatka headquarters, four regional service centers (Jacksonville, Apopka, Palm Bay, Palatka), and six field stations. Programs include the WATERSPOUT podcast, Florida Water Star certification, Blue School Grants, the abandoned artesian well plugging program (2,725 wells plugged since 1982, yielding 745 million gallons per day in potential savings), and the Water Less conservation campaign.

Funding derives from ad valorem property taxes collected across the 18-county service area, permit transaction fees, state and federal grants and appropriations, and cooperative cost-share contributions. Customers comprise 119 city and county governments receiving technical assistance, agricultural growers requiring water use permits, residents subject to watering restrictions, and commercial/industrial permit applicants. Recent strategic activity includes approval of the $1 billion Water First North Florida aquifer recharge initiative (November 2025, $125M district commitment) and an active Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration in response to severe drought across 9+ counties.

Name

St. Johns River Water Management District

Legal name

St. Johns River Water Management District

Website

https://sjrwmd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The St. Johns River Water Management District is a Florida state governmental agency, established in 1972, that manages water resources across 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida, regulating permitting, flood protection, conservation, and aquifer recharge through permitting systems, conservation programs, and infrastructure operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resource Management

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Flood Control & Protection Infrastructure (Levees, Floodwalls, Gates, Pump Stations) (EUANAEAI), Culverts, Bridges & Cross-Drainage Structures (Hydraulic Capacity & Rehabilitation) (EUANAEAC), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Water resource management
• Environmental permitting
• Flood protection services
• Water conservation programs
• Groundwater management

Headquarters

HQ city

Palatka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary funding source collected from property owners within the district's 18-county service area to fund water management operations, infrastructure, and programs
2. State and Federal Grants and Appropriations: Funding received from Florida state government and federal agencies for water resource projects, flood control, and environmental restoration
3. Permit Fees: Fees collected for environmental resource permits, consumptive use permits, and water well construction permits to cover regulatory processing costs
4. Cost-Share Funding: Cooperative funding program where the district co-invests with local governments, agricultural interests, and other entities in water conservation, alternative water supply, and water quality improvement projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The St. Johns River Water Management District is a state government regulatory agency that issues Environmental Resource Permits, Consumptive Use Permits, and water well construction permits across 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida. It operates flood control infrastructure (115 miles of levees, 12 major structures), administers water conservation and cost-share funding programs, runs the Abandoned Artesian Well Plugging Program, and manages 778,316 acres of conservation lands and 148 identified springs.

Product overview

The St. Johns River Water Management District operates as a regulatory agency providing water resource management services across 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida. The District's core offerings center on permitting systems (ePermit Portal for Environmental Resource Permits and Consumptive Use Permits), water conservation programs (including Water Less campaign, Florida Water Star certification, and Blue School Grants), and technical services (GIS data tools, Minimum Flows and Levels program, and cost-share funding). The District also operates the WATERSPOUT educational podcast and maintains the Abandoned Artesian Well Plugging Program to protect groundwater resources. The portfolio functions as an integrated water management ecosystem combining regulatory oversight, conservation initiatives, flood protection, and public education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SJRWMD: Official abbreviation for St. Johns River Water Management District used on the website and in communications
• WATERSPOUT
• Water Less
• H2O Heroes
• Florida Water Star

Products and services

• ePermit Portal Online permitting portal that lets applicants apply for Environmental Resource Permits (ERP), Consumptive Use Permits (CUP), and water well construction permits, view staff reports, and manage permit accounts; for developers, businesses, agricultural users, local governments, and the public.
• Abandoned Artesian Well Plugging Program Free well abandonment service that detects, evaluates, and plugs free-flowing abandoned artesian wells on property within the 18-county district, protecting groundwater quantity and quality; for landowners, residents, and local governments (with cost-share agreements in Brevard, Indian River, and Seminole counties).
• Florida Water Star Certification Voluntary water efficiency certification program that establishes standards for indoor and outdoor water use in new and existing homes and commercial buildings; for homeowners, builders, developers, and businesses seeking third-party certified water efficiency.
• Blue School Grant Program Competitive grant program that funds K-12 schools for water-focused educational projects, lesson plans, classroom resources, and student learning experiences; for school administrators and educators in the 18-county service area.
• Cost-Share Funding Program Cooperative funding program that co-invests with local governments, agricultural interests, and other partners in water conservation, alternative water supply, water quality improvement, and flood protection projects; agricultural, commercial, and industrial programs typically require a 50/50 match.
• Water Conservation Programs (Water Less / H2O Heroes) Public water conservation initiative including the Water Less outdoor water-saving campaign, H2O Heroes community recognition program, waterwise landscaping resources, home water-use surveys, and Florida Water Star certification promotion; for residents, HOAs, schools, and businesses across the district.

Quantifiable outcome

• 745 million gallons per day in potential water savings from abandoned well plugging program since 1982
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Taiwan Water Technology DelegationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Decades-long collaboration with Taiwan on water conservation, basin management, remote sensing, and sustainable resource management. Delegation visits include government, academic, and nonprofit sector representatives. Includes presentations on integrated water resource management, agricultural best practices, and data visualization.
• University of FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Collaboration following Taiwan delegation exchange visit. Part of ongoing knowledge sharing in water resource management with focus on science-based solutions to complex environmental challenges.
• City of Gainesville (Sweetwater Wetlands Park)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Part of Taiwan delegation technical exchange program, providing educational site visit as part of international water management knowledge sharing.
• Suwannee River Water Management DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Co-approval of Water First North Florida aquifer recharge initiative in November 2025. Both districts collaborate on the approximately $1 billion project to recharge the Floridan aquifer using highly treated reclaimed water at more than 40 million gallons per day.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2025Coordinates on environmental resource permitting rules (SWERP), total maximum daily load (TMDL) programs, basin management action plans (BMAP), and statewide water resource policy. Operating agreements define regulatory jurisdiction between DEP and water management districts.
• Other Florida Water Management DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with Northwest Florida Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and Suwannee River Water Management District on procurement opportunities, regulatory consistency, and regional water management issues.
• Brevard, Indian River and Seminole CountiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCost-share agreements for the abandoned artesian well plugging program in these counties, supporting well detection and plugging to conserve groundwater resources.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistrict serves as local sponsor for federal flood protection projects in Upper St. Johns River Basin and Upper Ocklawaha River Basin. Coordinates on levee system maintenance and operation of water control structures.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• American Water Works Association: Industry association and standards body for drinking water utilities; not a direct peer, but a relevant standards-setting and convening organization that shapes the regulatory and technical frameworks the District engages with around water supply, conservation, and utility operations.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Jacksonville District): Federal partner and co-owner of major flood control infrastructure within the District (115 miles of levees, 12 water control structures); not a competitor, but operates adjacent infrastructure under the same watershed and shares responsibility for flood protection in SJRWMD's territory.
• Water Reuse Foundation / WateReuse Association: National nonprofit advancing water reuse and reclaimed water projects; thematically adjacent because Water First North Florida's recharge model relies on highly treated reclaimed water, positioning it as an enabling/knowledge partner for the District's flagship initiative.

Direct peers

• South Florida Water Management District: Florida's largest water management district covering 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys and operating the Everglades restoration infrastructure; shares identical statutory mandate, board structure, and revenue model with SJRWMD, but at significantly larger scale.
• Northwest Florida Water Management District: The fifth and smallest Florida water management district, covering 16 panhandle counties under the same statutory framework; comparable regulatory scope and revenue mix (property taxes, permit fees, grants), making it a close structural peer.
• Southwest Florida Water Management District: Sister Florida water management district governing water resources across 16 counties in west-central Florida under Chapter 373; operates the same permitting, MFL, and flood control programs as SJRWMD and is a regular co-funding and coordination partner.
• Suwannee River Water Management District: Fellow Florida water management district established under the same Chapter 373 statutes, serving 15 counties in north-central Florida; co-approval partner with SJRWMD on the $1B Water First North Florida initiative, making it the most operationally and jurisdictionally comparable peer.

Broad incumbents

• California Department of Water Resources: The largest U.S. state water resource agency, managing statewide water supply, flood control, and infrastructure (including the State Water Project); functionally analogous to a water management district at the state level, but operating on a much larger scale and with broader jurisdiction than SJRWMD.
• Texas Water Development Board: Texas's state water planning and financing agency that funds water supply and flood projects; comparable role in statewide water resource planning and project co-funding, though structured as a board rather than a regional district.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection: The state-level environmental agency that coordinates the five water management districts and sets statewide permitting rules such as SWERP; comparable mission (water quality, environmental protection) and is a core regulatory and funding partner of SJRWMD.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sjrwmd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/floridaswater
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st.-johns-river-water-management-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St. Johns River Water Management District