Residents of Collier and Lee counties are being urged to conserve water and limit irrigation amid dry conditions.
The South Florida Water Management District on Tuesday issued a “water shortage warning” and said water levels in aquifers have declined.
The region has received 42 inches of rain this year, 13 inches below normal. Meanwhile the region has started its typical dry season, which lasts from November to May. “(It) is imperative that conservation of groundwater sources within Lee and Collier Counties be implemented,” the district said in a declaration of the warning.
“Water supplies over the remainder of the dry season may decline to the extent that sufficient water will not be available to meet the present and anticipated requirements of water users while also protecting the water resources from serious harm.”
The declaration said that if voluntary conservation efforts aren’t sufficient, mandatory water restrictions could be imposed “to equitably distribute the remaining groundwater supplies and prevent serious harm to the water resources.”
The district said residents and businesses in the counties should heed local landscaping ordinances. Residents also should reduce the durations of showers, minimize loads of laundry and only run dishwashers when full.
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