Rainfall deficits remain in all 16 counties
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted today to extend all Phase II and Phase III water restrictions.
Despite some instances of short-term heavy rainfall this summer that caused temporary, localized flooding, all of the counties within the District still have rainfall deficits and water levels are already declining.
The Board voted to continue theModified Phase III (or Extreme) water restrictions in the Tampa Bay Water service area. These restrictions, which apply to everyone in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, will remain in place until Dec. 31, 2009.
The Governing Board also voted to extend Modified Phase III (or Extreme) water restrictions in the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Region until Oct. 31, 2009, and the Modified Phase II (or Severe) Water Shortage restrictions in the remaining counties until Feb. 28, 2010.
Tampa Bay Water has been able to store 13.1 billion gallons of water in the 15-billion-gallon C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir. However, District staff cautioned that the consolidated permit wellfields and associated water resources have not recovered from the drought.
Earlier this year, the regional wellfields were heavily utilized because the reservoir ran dry. As a result, Tampa Bay Water needs to continue reducing groundwater withdrawals for at least two more months to make up for the earlier pumping.
“The summer rainy season has not been productive enough to restore the aquifers, rivers and lake levels to pre-drought levels,” said Granville Kinsman, District Hydrologic Data manager. “All water levels are already declining. Without sustained and above-normal rainfall during the the dry season, the aquifers, rivers and lakes will continue to be depleted.”
Under the revised Phase III order, lawn watering remains limited to the same once-per-week schedule and is limited to the hours of before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. for properties less than one acre. The restrictions apply to potable and non-potable water sources. Please see the attached Phase III fact sheet for the complete list of current restrictions and requirements.
The District identifies four possible levels of water shortage, beginning with “moderate” and increasing in intensity through “severe,” “extreme” and “critical.”
With most river flows in the normal range but lake levels remaining below normal, the region’s water shortage status currently ranges from “extreme” to “severe.” The District’s color-coded Water Shortage Alert Map (attached) graphically identifies the status for each county in the District.
Tampa Bay Region
Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties
Extreme (Red) Alert
All residents in the tri-county Tampa Bay area must follow the District’s Modified Phase III (or Extreme) Water Shortage restrictions. The region received below-normal rainfall in September. Aquifer levels are in the normal range but are declining. Lake levels are averaging about 0.31 feet below the lowest normal readings. River flows are declining but remain in the normal range.
Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Region
Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties
Extreme (Red) Alert
The four-county area remains under the District’s Modified Phase III (or Extreme) Water Shortage restrictions. The region received below-normal rainfall in September. Aquifer levels remain in the normal range but are declining. Lake levels are averaging about 1.79 feet below the lowest normal readings. The flow of the Peace River is declining and is already classified as severely abnormal as measured near Bartow. The Authority has 5.3 billion gallons of water in its two and aquifer storage and recovery wellfields, which should allow the Authority to meet demand for more than nine months.
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. The aquifer is in the normal range, but declining and some river flows and lakes are still 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 at WaterMatters.org/restrictions/.