NEWSZAP
April 12, 2007

Water board issues new restrictions; Water restrictions for Okeechobee remain at Phase II

By Lorna Jablonski ljablonski@newszap.com

http://www.newszap.com/articles/2007/04/12/fl/lake_okeechobee/aok03.txt

The governing board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) met Thursday morning in West Palm Beach. One of the main items on their agenda dealt with the continuing drought conditions in the district's 16-county area.

They formally declared a severe water shortage for most of the area and an extreme water shortage in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). The following orders were approved at the meeting and will become effective Friday, April 13:

-- Modified Phase III extreme water shortage restrictions will be implemented for the EAA basins located within the Lake Okeechobee service area.

Mandatory Phase III water restrictions will go into effect on April 13 in the EAA just south of Lake Okeechobee. Agricultural water users will be required to reduce their water consumption of Lake Okeechobee-connected surface water by 45 percent.

-- Existing Phase II severe water shortage restrictions will remain in effect for portions of the Lake Okeechobee service area, along with a cease withdrawal order for SFWMD permitted agricultural users in Martin and St. Lucie counties that withdraw water from SFWMD canals.

The Phase II restrictions in this area have been in place since March 22 and apply to users who obtain their water from Lake Okeechobee, public utilities, canals, ponds and lakes. These restrictions have predominantly impacted agricultural, industrial and commercial water users in parts of Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, Lee and Martin counties.

It also applies to residential users whose water source is Lake Okeechobee, or any of the surface water canals recharged by the lake. Those utility customers in South Bay, Belle Glade, Pahokee and Clewiston are also affected by these restrictions.

Phase II restrictions require users to reduce their surface water use by 30 percent.

Private wells are not restricted in this area. SFWMD will continue to monitor conditions in this area on a weekly basis to assess the need for increased restrictions.

-- A Phase II severe water shortage has been declared for the lower east coast service area, comprised of eastern Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, along with a small part of Martin County served by the Tequesta Water Utilities.

-- A Phase II severe water shortage has been declared for the lower west coast service area, comprised of Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades counties and a part of Charlotte County.

-- A Phase I moderate water shortage has been declared for the upper east coast service area, comprised of Martin and St. Lucie counties. These restrictions are aimed at outdoor water use and limit lawn watering and auto washing to three days a week. These days will be Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 4 until 8 a.m. for addresses that end in an odd numbers; and Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 4 until 8 a.m. for even-numbered addresses.

Phase I water restrictions require users to reduce water usage by 15 percent. The Phase I restrictions in this area apply to users who get their water from public utilities, private wells, canals, ponds and lakes.

-- A detailed water delivery plan affecting agricultural users in the Lake Istokpoga area was also approved. Phase II restrictions are now in effect for other users in this area.

These new restrictions will stay in place until the board rescinds them.

"We appreciate the public's understanding and compliance with the new water use restrictions," said Kevin McCarty, chairman of the SFWMD governing board. "This new set of restrictions represents some of the toughest cutbacks we've ever had to endure in South Florida, but we're all in this together and we all have to do our parts."

SFWMD Director Carol Wehle said: "If we don't get above average rainfall this summer, we may not come of drought conditions until after next year's dry season."

"Our primary concerns are public health and safety," stated Missie Barletto, of SFWMD's Okeechobee Service Center. "We are concerned for the coastal well fields. If salt intrudes into these wells, it will take years to recover them. We also must ensure that we have adequate water for fire protection, and that we have a clean, healthy drinking water supply for our hospitals and homes."

Ms. Barletto pointed out that once it starts raining, we could see local flooding.

"After an extended drought, the ground has gotten so hard that water will not soak in and flooding occurs," explained Ms. Barletto. "Now is the time to conserve every drop of water and when it does begin to rain, shut off lawn sprinklers."