SRWMD declares Phase II Water Shortage

Press release from Suwannee River Water Management District

LIVE OAK, Fla. – 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 (District) Governing Board on Tuesday declared a Phase II Water Shortage.

Currently, Districtwide aquifer levels sit around the 20^th 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.
• 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 a number of other restrictions for agriculture, commercial, cemeteries, golf courses, and industrial uses.

The Phase II Water Shortage will go into effect on March 17. A link to the order can be found here.

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, 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.