Due to continued drought conditions and a forecast that calls for lower than average rainfall in the months ahead, the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board on March 10 declared a Phase II Water Shortage.
Currently, districtwide aquifer levels sit around the 20th percentile, and ongoing monitoring efforts show below average river flows throughout the district. As of March 5, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows all district counties having extreme drought conditions.
A Phase II Water Shortage declaration expands voluntary water conservation measures and implements regulatory measures. This includes:
—limiting landscape irrigation to only one day per week, keeping with the winter watering schedule. Watering in of fertilizer or pesticide is limited to the necessary minimum.
—prohibiting homeowners associations from requiring increased water use to meet aesthetic standards.
—restricting use of water for washing or cleaning streets, driveways and sidewalks.
—restricting pressure cleaning to low-volume methods.
—limiting augmentation to what is necessary to preserve the integrity of surface water body and associated habitat.
The order includes other restrictions for agriculture, commercial, cemeteries, golf courses, and industrial uses.
The Phase II Water Shortage went into effect on March 17.
The district continues to encourage voluntary water reductions among all users, including residents, visitors, businesses, agricultural producers and other water users. Permittees are encouraged to prepare for worsening drought conditions and the implementation of additional regulatory measures.
The advisory applies to all counties within the district (including Bradford and Union), and the unincorporated portions of Alachua and Levy counties.
The district, in coordination with Florida’s other water management districts, will continue to monitor hydrologic conditions, keep the public informed, and, if warranted, declare additional water shortage measures.
