Despite ongoing drought restrictions across the region, residents in The Villages may see sprinklers running outside of normal hours as officials work to lower water levels in select retention ponds following recent heavy rainfall.
The community and surrounding areas remain under Phase III Modified Water Shortage Orders issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the St. Johns River Water Management District. In response to the prolonged lack of rainfall, community irrigation has been reduced to one day per week, and new plantings have been limited.
However, recent localized downpours have dumped up to 6.5 inches of rain in Community Development District 1 and Community Development District 2, according to the District Office. This has significantly raised water levels in some engineered stormwater basins, which capture and retain rainwater for landscape irrigation. These affected basins have now reached levels that limit their capacity to safely manage any additional rainfall…