PALATKA, Fla., Feb. 16, 2001 — With rainfall between 15 and 25 inches below normal for thepast three years in north Florida, the St. Johns River Water ManagementDistrict is asking homeowners, businesses and industry to do their partto help avert additional water restrictions.
Current water levelsin some areas of the groundwater supply - the Floridan aquifer - are approximately3 feet below last year’s levels. The aquifer provides drinking water to90 percent of the area’s population.
Spring also is atime when many people begin sprucing up their yards, planting new landscapesand doing general spring cleaning - all activities that use extra waterand require water conservation.
“Our efforts at conservationare aimed at preventing wasteful use of water and harm to our water resources,”said Hal Wilkening, District director of resource management. “While weare not in an emergency situation at this time, extra effort in conservingwater now may help avoid further restrictions in the future. However,depending on the weather, the potential exists for mandatory restrictionson outdoor irrigation and other uses.”
District staff membersregularly monitor rainfall, lake and well levels, and updated informationis presented monthly to the Governing Board for consideration.
The 19-county areaserved by the District has been under a water shortage warning since April1999. The warning urges all water users to reduce their water use andto limit outdoor irrigation to no more than twice weekly. This voluntarymeasure applies to all types of water uses including landscape and golfcourse irrigation.
The District promotesyear-round conservation through its water conservation rule, which requiresall permitted water users to implement water conservation measures andallows residential and commercial outdoor irrigation only before 10 a.m.and after 4 p.m.? Established in 1991, the rule applies to everyone, regardlessof whether the water comes from a private well, surface water or publicor private utility.
A few exceptionsfrom the rule exist for certain special circumstances and for the useof reclaimed water.
While the Districthas the sole responsibility of implementing water shortage restrictionswhen water supplies are inadequate to meet needs, a few water supply utilitiesmay enact additional restrictions for their customers because their facilitiescannot meet peak demand periods.
To provide the publicwith easy access to its year-round water restrictions and any emergencyrestrictions, such as those currently implemented in central Florida,the District will post its restrictions, as well as any provided by utilities,on the District’s Internet site at http://sjr.state.fl.us.
Information on waysto conserve water is available by contacting the District’s Office ofCommunications and Governmental Affairs at (800) RALLY22.
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