Swiftmud declares water shortage, but irrigation schedule remains same for Polk County
The governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District voted Tuesday to declare a Modified Phase I Water Shortage due to ongoing dry conditions throughout the region and increasing water supply concerns, the district said in a news release.
The restrictions apply to all of Polk County and 10 other counties and parts of three others. The order does not change the allowable watering schedule for Polk County, which remains twice a week for lawn irrigation. The order prohibits “wasteful and unnecessary” water use in Polk and several other counties.
Residents are asked to check their irrigation systems to ensure they are working properly. This means testing and repairing broken pipes and leaks and fixing damaged or tilted sprinkler heads, the release said. Residents should also check their irrigation timer to ensure the settings are correct and the rain sensor is working properly.
The district will limit lawn watering to once a week starting Dec. 1 in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
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The district received lower than normal rainfall during its summer rainy season and currently has a 9.2-inch districtwide rainfall deficit compared with the average 12-month total, the release said. Water levels in the district’s water resources, such as aquifers, rivers and lakes, are beginning to decline.
The latest weekly update from the district showed average aquifer levels for the central section, including Polk County, at the 28twith percentile, compared to the 70th a year earlier.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Swiftmud declares water shortage; no change in Polk's restrictions
