Despite the rain, west-central Florida residents are still being told to conserve water, with one-day-a-week outdoor watering restrictions extended through spring.
Here’s what to know
The Southwest Florida Water Management District restrictions announced on September 22 apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter counties, along with portions of other counties, according to WUSF.
Rainfall over the previous year was more than 15 inches below normal. The district said rain still has not restored regional water sources enough to loosen the limits.
At the district board meeting, April Breton, the district’s water use permitting bureau chief, said, “All of our drought indicators within our district are below their normal range. The lake levels throughout the district are mostly below their low normal levels. The supply levels in our regional reservoirs have started to increase; however, additional quantities are needed to prepare for the dry season.”…