Alachua County, the St John’s and Southwest Water Management Districts, the Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA), and Irritech Training are offering Florida Water Star Accredited Professional (FWS AP) training for the irrigation industry.
The FWS Accredited Professional training is on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 8:30 am to 5 pm (lunch is provided), at the Waccasassa Forestry Center (5353 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville). Continuing education credits are available for Landscape Architects, FNGLA Certified Professionals, and Florida Water Star Professionals.
Landscape irrigation is one of the largest water uses in Alachua County. “We all need to do our part to use less water every day and to eliminate water waste,” said Eliana Bardi, Senior Planner with the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department. “Ensuring irrigation systems are designed as efficiently as possible and are regularly maintained and free of leaks is essential in protecting our groundwater supply that also feeds our springs and rivers.”
All new irrigation systems installed in Alachua County must undergo a county approval process, which includes an application fee ($100 for residential and $150 for non-residential) for plan review, as well as an inspection fee ($150 for residential and $200 for non-residential). Irrigation professionals who are FWS AP (this training) or hold a State Irrigation License are eligible to self-inspect irrigation projects and have the inspection fee waived.
Alachua County recommends that anyone who installs or maintains irrigation systems in the county attend the training and become a FWS AP, not only to save money on the inspection fee, but also to be eligible to participate in grant-funded rebate programs for irrigation upgrades, which often require professionals to be accredited.
View the training flyer.
The training cost is $50. Participants must register online.
View a description of the accreditation program.
For more information about the FWS program, contact Deirdre Irwin with the St. Johns River Water Management District at dirwin@sjrwmd.com.
For more information about Alachua County irrigation design standards and irrigation rebates, contact Eliana Bardi at 352-264-6810 or ebardi@alachuacounty.us.
