Board urges emergency status in Manatee and Sarasota counties
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted today to extend the current Water Shortage Order, which restricts lawn watering throughout the District to one-day-per-week, until June 30.
The water shortage order, which was declared by the District’s Executive Director David L. Moore, went into effect Jan. 16 and was originally scheduled to expire July 31. Since then it has been extended twice, and was slated to expire Nov. 30.
"If conditions continue to deteriorate in any part of the District, the Governing Board may choose to tighten restrictions in that area," said Moore.
The Governing Board chose to further extend the water shortage order after an in-depth presentation by staff outlining the depressed hydrologic conditions in the District, as well as the La Nina forecasts for a drier than normal fall, winter and spring.
Provisional information as of Nov. 1 shows all 16 counties within the District are experiencing an annual average rainfall deficit of approximately 9.6 inches. The Green Swamp Basin, which is the headwaters for the Withlacoochee, Hillsborough and Peace rivers, also has a 9.6-inch rainfall deficit. Average rainfall is measured as a twelve-month moving sum.
For the 24-month period of November 2005 through October 2007, the Districtwide rainfall deficit is 20.7 inches.
All 16 counties within the District are experiencing below-normal groundwater conditions. In general, groundwater conditions are currently categorized as severely abnormal.
Two major rivers within the District are experiencing below-normal conditions. Of particular concern is the Peace River, which has a stream flow currently classified as extremely abnormal and serves as the primary water source for the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority, a wholesale water supplier serving approximately 250,000 people in Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties.
Entering the dry season the Authority has only 1.1 billion gallons of water in storage, which is estimated to supply 80 to 100 days of water if no further action is taken. The Authority’s maximum capacity is 7.9 billion gallons. Dry conditions have not provided enough flow in the Peace River to maximize storage.
As a result, the Governing Board also approved a motion urging Manatee and Sarasota counties to declare a water emergency. The board is asking Manatee County to increase the amount of water it is providing Sarasota County so that Sarasota County can reduce its reliance on the Authority.
The Governing Board also directed Moore to speak to the Manatee and Sarasota county commissions tomorrow to further communicate the importance of declaring a water emergency.
The water shortage order includes restrictions that apply to the use of water from public and private water utilities as well as the use of all wells and surface water sources (ponds, rivers, etc.).
Schedule of restrictions
The following is a schedule and summary of the restrictions unless your city or county has a different once-per-week schedule or more stringent restrictions.
| Addresses with house numbers | May only irrigate on |
|---|---|
| Ending in 0 or 1 | Monday |
| Ending in 2 or 3 | Tuesday |
| Ending in 4 or 5 | Wednesday |
| Ending in 6 or 7 | Thursday |
| Ending in 8 or 9 | Friday |
Lawn & Landscape Watering
- If your city or county has a different once-per-week schedule in effect, your watering day will remain the same.
- Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties under two acres in size may only water before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- These measures apply to commercial establishments as well as residential properties.
- Variances are available if a property proposes an alternative irrigation plan (such as splitting a large property into two pieces and assigning a different day to each piece).
- Handwatering or microirrigation of non-lawn landscape is allowed.
- Certain exemptions are available, such as allowances for new plant material.
Additional Water Shortage Conservation Measures
- Fountain operation is limited to 8 hours per day.
- Other restrictions apply to specific industrial, agricultural and golf course water uses.
For more information about water restrictions call 1-800-848-0499 or 1-800-423-1476, extension 4498, during normal business hours. To learn more about how you can conserve water, visitwww.WaterMatters.org/conservation.