Region at highest alert level and subject to modified Phase IV water restrictions
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted to enact Modified Phase IV (or Critical) Water Shortage restrictions for potable water use in the Tampa Bay Water service area. These are the District’s highest level of water shortage measures.
The Tampa Bay Water’s six member governments include Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties as well as the cities of Tampa, New Port Richey and St. Petersburg.
In addition to the member utilities, cities that receive water from one of the six member governments must also follow the new restrictions. The cities include Bellair Beach, Bellair Bluffs, Bellair Shores, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Kenneth City, Largo, Madeira Beach, North Redington Beach, Redington Beach, Redington Shores, St. Petersburg Beach, Seminole, Treasure Island, Clearwater, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, Port Richey, Safety Harbor, South Pasadena and Tarpon Springs. Residents who receive water from Pebble Creek Utilities and Aloha Utilities in Pasco County must also follow the Phase IV restrictions.
The Phase IV order prohibits certain activities, reduces lawn watering hours and limits the use of water-based air conditioning. Please seethe Phase IV fact sheet for the list of restrictions and requirements.
Residents in the three-county area using other sources of water, such as private well water or water from other utilities, remain under Modified Phase III restrictions declared in October 2008. The major difference between the Phase III and Phase IV orders is the need for additional action to support water utilities with critically low supply storage and other infrastructure concerns.
The District identifies four possible levels of water shortage, beginning with “moderate” and increasing in intensity through “severe,” “extreme” and “critical.”
With river flows, aquifer levels, and lake levels remaining far below normal, the region’s water shortage status ranges from “severe” to “critical.” The District’s color-coded Water Shortage Alert Map (attached) graphically identifies the status for each county in the District.
All water restrictions are currently in effect through June 30, 2009.
Tampa Bay Region
Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties
Critical (Black) Alert
Customers of several water utilities in the tri-county Tampa Bay area are now under the District’s Modified Phase IV (or Critical) Water Shortage restrictions. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 representing the lowest and 100 the highest, current river flows are hovering around the 2nd percentile. Aquifer levels remain below normal, and lakes are averaging about two feet below the lowest normal readings. Tampa Bay Water’s 15-billion-gallon reservoir is dry. Tampa Bay Water and Aloha Utilities are heavily pumping wellfields to meet demand.
In addition to declaring a Modified Phase IV Water Shortage, the District continues to implement several emergency authorizations including:
- Allowing Tampa Bay Water to increase withdrawals from the Tampa Bypass Canal to help meet the city of Tampa’s potable water demand.
- Allowing Tampa Bay Water to increase withdrawals from the Alafia River when sufficient flows are available.
- Allowing the City of Tampa to withdraw water from Sulfur Springs to augment its reservoir, reducing its need to buy water from Tampa Bay Water’s regional system.
- Testing the possibility of using the Morris Bridge Sinkhole as another temporary water supply.
Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Region
Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties
Extreme (Red) Alert
The four-county area remains under theDistrict’s Modified Phase III (or Extreme) Water Shortage restrictions. On a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 representing the lowest and 100 the highest, current Peace River flows are hovering around the 2nd percentile. Aquifer levels are below normal, and lakes are averaging more than four feet below the lowest normal readings.
The area will continue to follow the Phase III restrictions, which were approved by the Governing Board in February. In addition to continuing to restrict lawn watering to one-day-per-week, the Phase III order calls for local governments to strictly enforce the rules. Please seethe Phase III fact sheet for the list of restrictions.
In addition to declaring the Modified Phase III Water Shortage, the District continues to implement several emergency authorizations including:
- Allowing the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority to increase withdrawals from the Peace River when sufficient flows are available.
- Allowing the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority to withdraw groundwater from its Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wellfields instead of previously stored river water.
- Allowing the Englewood Water District to increase groundwater withdrawals to provide extra water to Charlotte County through a recently constructed interconnection, temporarily reducing the county’s reliance on the Authority’s regional system.
Remaining Counties (see map)
Severe (Orange) Alert
The remaining counties in the District continue to follow the District’s Modified Phase II (or Severe) Water Shortage restrictions. River flows, aquifer and lake levels remain significantly below normal. The Phase II restrictions were approved by the District’s Governing Board in January 2007 and have been extended several times due to the ongoing drought impacts. District water restrictions include limiting lawn watering to a maximum of one day per week.
In addition to following restrictions, residents are also urged to continue conserving water in other ways indoors and outdoors at their homes and businesses. Residents should consider turning off their irrigation systems when it rains before their next watering day. With outdoor irrigation accounting for as much as 50 percent of residential water usage, skipping a week of water can result in a significant water savings.
For more information about watering restrictions in your area, contact your local utility, or visit the District’s website atWaterMatters.org/restrictions/.