The Southwest Florida Water Management District is urging residents to conserve water. Despite receiving heavy rain over the holiday weekend, the region remains well below normal annual rainfall.
Florida receives an average of 52 inches of rainfall per year, with 60 percent of that annual rainfall is from June through September.
When reporting rainfall, the District is divided into three regions: north (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion and Sumter counties), central (Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, and Polk counties), and south (Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, and Sarasota counties).
This year’s rainfall for the north region is almost 39 inches. Rainfall for the central region is just above 43 inches and rainfall for the south region is just above 42 inches.
These rainfall totals are only a few inches above the numbers the District saw during the 2000 drought.
Here are some easy tips on how residents can conserve water:
*Lawns do not need to be watered more than once every10 to 14 days in the winter.
*Place a shutoff nozzle on your hose to control the flow of water so you only use what you need. Remember to turn the water off at the spigot to prevent leaks. A garden hose, without a shutoff nozzle, can pour out530 gallons of water in an hour.
*Turn off the water as you brush your teeth, wash your face or shave. You can save up to1,000 gallons of water per month by turning off the water while brushing your teeth and shaving.
*Run washing machines and automatic dishwashers only when fully loaded. Set clothes washers to the appropriate water level for the size of load you are washing.
For more tips and information on water conservation, please visit the District’s web site at www.WaterMatters.org.