I don't know about Florida water regulations, but here in Colorado the State tells you what you must do:

1. The State either OK's a well permit or not.

2. Upon receiving a permit, the State directs what the maximum well depth can be (what aquifer the water will be taken from). I have two wells one at 250-ft. and a large well at 1000-Ft.

3. The State directs how many acre feet of water/year you are allowed to use.

4. All wells have to be metered, and the use readings sent to the State every year.

I irrigate directly off of the well, as my irrigation out put uses all of the water being pumped. I can see if one is watering smaller acreage, and the well is supplying more water than is being applied, then the well would be recycling. In that case, as recommended above, it would be better to pump into storage. - Millet (568-)

A permit is required but usage and quantity is not regulated at this time thankfully. I would like to have all my watering done in a two hour window and that may require more volume than normal. I will need to do some figuring. As far as zones I currently am setup for 12 zones with 1 1/2" valves and 1" laterals but I may need more. A lot more research is needed. I also have to allow for future expansion.

Millet,

Sounds like Big Brother is way to deep into your life, LOL, BUT I guess your state does have to provide water for a lot of the surrounding areas. I recently read or heard somerthing that made some sense. If we can build a pipeline to transfer oil across Alaska why can't we build some kind of water relocation and distribution system. I realize that the quantity isn't exactly equitable but I believe that something could be done. Even if it meant a man made river to the west and the east I'm sure that somewhere there are geological formations and topographical areas that would suppport such a venture to build huge reservoirs. I know that this sounds contradictory to my anti goverment in my face distaste but something of this magnitude would require goverment involvement.

Lake Mead get its water from the Colorado river, which starts high up in the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Colorado river is the most damed river in the USA. It used to empty into the Gulf of California, but because so much water is taken out of the river all along it route, it no longer reaches the ocean, but runs dry just north of Mexico. Many of America's larger rivers originate in the mountains of Colorado, but most of them are on the west side of the Continental Divide in Western Colorado. Therefore, they flow into the Pacific Ocean. However, the majority of Colorado's population is situated east of the Continental Divide. So the State has drilled very large tunnels and huge pipes through the mountains and divert a lot of the water back over to the East side of the Continental Divide bringing the water to places like the Denver metro area, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. A little like Darkman has suggested. - Millet (559-)

I saw something on the History channel I think, where Lake Mead is drying up pretty quickly. They seemed to blame Las Vegas water needs for the problem and "they" had no solution for the on going problem....They said without Lake Mead , Las Vegas would turn into a ghost town....