Volusia County

As of February 2025, Florida rules allow for utilities to treat and distribute reclaimed water — recycled, highly-treated wastewater — for drinking.

Environment & Climate

Daytona Beach voters will decide whether to ban recycled drinking water

Molly Duerig

Recycled water, also called reclaimed water, is highly-treated wastewater that gets reused for another purpose.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young told commissioners Wednesday that last weekend's large, unpermitted spring break gatherings strained his agency's public safety resources. "Even if I had deployed all 222 officers, in comparison to what we were dealing with, we were still grossly outnumbered."

Government & Politics

Spring break ‘chaos’ prompts temporary youth curfew in Daytona Beach

Molly Duerig

The youth curfew will be from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for one week, from March 20-26.

Melissa Thorne holds a sign in support of the Volusia Forever program at Tuesday’s council meeting. Thorne is currently running for election, seeking to unseat Volusia County District 1 representative Don Dempsey.

Environment & Climate

Following public outcry, elected leaders delay talk on Volusia Forever

Molly Duerig

People packed the chambers Tuesday for a scheduled discussion on Volusia County’s land conservation program, but council members removed it from the agenda.

People use bicycles, including an e-bike (in lime green above) to participate in Eatonville’s Bike Ride Through Black History in February 2021.

Environment & Climate

More e-bike rules take shape in Central Florida, statewide

Molly Duerig

Legislation awaiting final approval directs law enforcement agencies to track and report data for crashes involving e-bikes.

Gary Singleton (left) speaks in support of rural boundary protections at Tuesday’s council meeting. To his right, Senior Assistant County Attorney Paolo Soria reviews materials prepared for the meeting.

Environment & Climate

Annexation option could help control growth, but Volusia leaders say no thanks

Molly Duerig

The county's legal experts say the mechanism — a charter amendment on annexations — wouldn't have been preempted by a recent state law.

Some of Orange County’s last remaining natural lands lie just past Wedgefield. Last year, entities affiliated with the Mormon Church tried to annex tens of thousands of acres of that land into Orlando’s city limits.

Environment & Climate

Proposal to speed up large developments in rural areas clears final House committee

Molly Duerig

Critics say the changes approved by lawmakers Thursday still wouldn’t protect local home rule power.

People tubing along Blue Spring State Park.

Environment & Climate

101 vultures found dead at Blue Spring State Park, likely from bird flu

Marian Summerall

Wildlife officials are investigating what happened to 101 vultures who were found dead and 17 sick at Blue Spring State Park.

Florida Capitol/Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Environment & Climate

‘Time running out’ for fix to law that limits home rule, advocates say

Molly Duerig

One proposal successfully cleared the Senate, but has yet to advance in the House.

As of this week, 67% of the state is in an extreme drought, the second-most severe level, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Environment & Climate

Volusia enacts burn ban, becoming latest Central Florida county to do so

Molly Duerig

The burn ban will stay in place until drought conditions improve and the wildfire risk goes down.

Daytona Beach resident Greg Gimbert has been working to mobilize other critics of potable reuse, what he calls “toilet to tap.”

Environment & Climate

Volusia Council fails to pass proposals to ban recycled water for drinking

Molly Duerig

Council members agreed they don’t like the idea of drinking reclaimed water, but disagreed on how imminently it could happen in Volusia County.