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Drought Deepens: Florida Faces Extreme Water Shortage Rules
26 Mar
Summary
- New water restrictions require restaurants to serve water only upon request.
- The order affects 11 full counties and portions of others in west-central Florida.
- A 13.7-inch rainfall deficit and low aquifer levels prompted the escalated measures.
West-central Florida is facing a deepening drought, leading to the implementation of Modified Phase III "Extreme" Water Shortage restrictions until July 1. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) enacted these stringent conservation rules due to a significant 13.7-inch regional rainfall deficit and critically low water levels in aquifers, rivers, and lakes.
Among the most notable changes, restaurants are now required to provide water to diners only upon customer request, a move designed to curb unnecessary usage. This modification affects all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter counties, along with parts of other counties and specific cities.
Officials emphasize that outdoor watering, which constitutes a substantial portion of household water consumption, is a primary target for these limitations. The restrictions aim to preserve public water supplies, which are described as "extremely low for this time of year," throughout the region's driest months.
