The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board voted today to declare a Phase I Water Shortage for the District’s central and southern regions, which include Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.

The primary purpose for a Phase I water shortage is to alert the public that watering restrictions could be forthcoming. The order also requires local utilities to review and implement procedures for enforcing year-round water conservation measures and water shortage restrictions, including reporting enforcement activity to the District.

A Phase I water shortage order does not change allowable watering schedules, however it does prohibit “wasteful and unnecessary” water use.

The District considers both natural water resource conditions and the viability of public water supplies when deciding to declare a water shortage order – that means, restricting the amount of water the public can use.

The District has worked diligently with our partners to implement water conservation programs and develop alternative water supplies. Even though we are experiencing drought conditions, there is still an adequate water supply available to the public.

Florida’s dry season runs October through May and April is historically one of the driest months of the year. The District encourages water conservation year-round, and offers many tips to reduce water use and additional information on our website at WaterMatters.org/Conservation.

We’re halfway through Water Conservation Month, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) encourages citizens to do their part to save water in and around their homes.

While we shelter at home to stay safe, here’s more water saving tips to lower your monthly water bill and save hundreds of gallons of water:

• Ensure rain sensors are operating properly. Irrigating during or after significant rainfall is a major cause of outdoor water waste and can cost you money.
• Check that all irrigation spray nozzles, or sprinklers, are irrigating areas efficiently and effectively. Inspection and maintenance should be done regularly.
• Upgrade existing irrigation controllers to SMART technology, which can reduce irrigation use by up to 23% and put more money back in your pocket.
• Switch to WaterSense labeled products including indoor showerheads, bathroom facets and toilets to save hundreds of gallons of water a week.
• Consider updating appliances like dishwashers and washing machines to Energy Star rated products. This can significantly cut back your water use.

For more information about water conservation, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org/Conservation.

To celebrate Springs Protection Awareness Month, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is launching a new Septic to Sewer initiative by providing more than $7 million in matching funds for five projects that help reduce the impact of septic tanks on the region’s five first-magnitude springs.

“Improving our five first-magnitude springs is a key priority for our District,” said Brian Armstrong, the District’s executive director. “Thanks to the ongoing financial support from Governor Ron DeSantis, the Legislature and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), we are launching a new initiative to fund septic to sewer conversion projects that will reduce nitrogen and improve the health of our springs.”

Septic tanks contribute up to 42 percent of the current nitrogen pollution in the District's five first-magnitude springs, according to DEP. Increased nitrogen can cause algae growth, which can be harmful to aquatic plants and wildlife. The District is working closely with DEP and local government partners on projects that reduce nitrogen in priority focus areas within the Rainbow River, Crystal River/Kings Bay, Homosassa River, Chassahowitzka River and Weeki Wachee River springsheds.

These initial five projects are estimated to reduce nitrogen by more than 10,000 pounds per year:

Crystal River/Kings Bay

• The Citrus County Cambridge Greens Septic to Sewer project 
• The Crystal River Indian Waters Septic to Sewer Phase II project
• The Crystal River Southern Septic to Sewer project

Chassahowitzka and Homosassa 

• The Citrus County Old Homosassa West Septic to Sewer project
• The Citrus County Old Homosassa East Septic to Sewer project

The Springs Coast Steering and Management committees, which are composed of local, regional and state agencies, support DEP project selection by reviewing each project and making recommendations to the District’s Governing Board and ultimately to DEP for funding consideration. The Governing Board has committed funding to restore the spring systems and to reduce the financial burden on the local communities and residents.

Visit WaterMatters.org/Springs to learn more about how septic tanks impact springs and the District’s efforts to reduce nutrients in springsheds.

Public participation will be provided through online viewing or conference call options

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, April 28, at 10 a.m. remotely.

Following the Governor’s directions to reduce public gatherings and practice social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, in-person attendance by Board members and staff will be limited. With the exception of the Governing Board chair, all other Board members will be participating remotely. Only staff that are necessary for the meeting will attend in person at the Brooksville Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.

To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit WaterMatters.org and click on the “Live Video Stream” link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time.

For any members of the public who wish to provide input to the Governing Board, call in at 1-888-585-9008, then enter conference room number 346-054-201. You will also be able to hear the proceedings there. If possible, please use a landline for the best connection. Please do not use speakerphone or put your phone on hold. Please be sure to mute your phone when you are not providing comment. During the conference call, *2 will mute or unmute your call.

If you are calling in to provide input but also want to see the meeting presentations, we recommend you use the Skype option available on our website at WaterMatters.org rather than our traditional livestream. The livestream is slightly delayed so it wouldn’t be in sync with the phone call. When logging in to Skype, you must select “Don’t join audio.” Make sure to also mute your Skype device audio to avoid feedback loop. Use the telephone numbers listed above to listen to the meeting.

The meeting agenda and meeting materials are posted one week before the meeting, and can be found at WaterMatters.org by clicking on the “Go to District Calendar” link.

While the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) encourages water conservation year-round, there is extra emphasis each April for Water Conservation Month. April is historically one of the driest months of the year and typically marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers.

While we shelter at home to stay safe, here are 10 simple tips to lower your monthly water bill and do your part to save hundreds of gallons of water:

INDOOR

• Only run your washing machine and dishwasher when they are full.
• Use the shortest clothes washing cycle for lightly soiled loads; normal and permanent-press wash cycles use more water.
• Thaw frozen food in the refrigerator or microwave, not under running water.
• Scrape, don’t rinse, your dishes before loading in the dishwasher.
• Install high-efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets.

OUTDOOR

• Check your home’s irrigation system for leaks.
• Turn off your irrigation system and only water as needed.
• Don’t leave sprinklers unattended. Use a kitchen timer to remind yourself to turn sprinklers off.
• Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle when washing the car.
• Consider installing a rain barrel with a drip irrigation system for watering your landscaping. Rainwater is free and better for your plants because it doesn’t contain hard minerals.

Leaks are the biggest water waster, both inside and outside of your home. You can use your water meter to check for leaks. Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances and make sure no one uses water during the testing period. Wait for the hot water heater and ice cube makers to refill and for regeneration of water softeners. Go to your water meter and record the current reading. Wait 30 minutes. (Remember, no water should be used during this period.)  Read the meter again. If the reading has changed, you have a leak.