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The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted Sept. 22 to extend its Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Order for a second time. The restrictions remain unchanged and apply throughout Polk County and other parts of the region, including to residents using private wells.
The district reported a 15.4-inch rainfall deficit for the 12 months ending in August, compared with a 13-inch deficit reported in March. Despite recent rain, the region remains significantly below normal rainfall levels.
How to avoid fines
On Sept. 8, the Lakeland City Commission unanimously approved higher fines for violating water restrictions and eliminated warnings for first-time offenders. Residents within city limits now face a $50 fine for a first violation, $200 for a second, and $500 for a third, bringing the city’s fines in line with Polk County’s which have been in place since 2009.
Residents of both the city of Lakeland and unincorporated areas of Lakeland should continue following the existing Phase III restrictions. The watering schedule is the same for both the city and Polk county.
The restrictions include:
- Lawn watering: Once a week on your assigned day, between midnight and 4 a.m. or between 8 p.m. and midnight.
- Car washing: Only on your assigned watering day, using a shutoff nozzle.
- Decorative fountains: Limited to four hours per day.
- Pressure washing: Allowed in preparation for painting or sealing, but not for aesthetic purposes.
- Restaurants: Water may be served only upon request.
The district said outdoor water use accounts for more than half of household water consumption and encouraged residents to conserve wherever possible.
Residents who are already following the restrictions can find additional indoor and outdoor water-saving tips through the district’s Water 101 for Homeowners resources. Recommendations for reducing outdoor water use include collecting rainwater in barrels, installing micro-irrigation systems, and choosing Florida-Friendly plants for landscaping.
Water levels below last year’s
The district’s most recently published data shows that regional water levels remain below those recorded at the same time last year. The district typically publishes updated figures weekly, but the most recent data available is from Sept. 23. LkldNow has requested more recent figures.
Polk County is part of the district’s Central region, where aquifer levels were at the 33rd percentile as of Sept. 23. That was up from the 31st percentile the previous week but below the 39th percentile recorded at the same time last year.
The district considers aquifer levels between the 25th and 75th percentiles to be within the normal range. However, the water shortage reflects broader regional conditions, including rainfall deficits and water supply levels.
More than 80% of the region’s water supply comes from aquifers, according to the district.
Lakeland gets its drinking water from wells tapping the Upper Floridan Aquifer. Unlike surface reservoirs, groundwater supplies are replenished slowly as rainfall seeps into the ground, making sustained conservation important even after periods of rain.
Rainfall totals for the Central region also remain below historical averages. From January through Sept. 23, the region received 35.83 inches of rain, compared with a historical average of 45.08 inches. The district’s normal range for that period is 40 to 48.62 inches.
The Central region received 5.57 inches of rain through Sept. 23, compared with a historical September average of 6.89 inches.
Monitoring the drought
The district maintains about 170 active rainfall gauges that collect nearly 6 million rainfall measurements annually. It also collects data from more than 800 surface water stations and approximately 1,800 groundwater wells.
The district funds additional monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey at about 140 surface water and groundwater stations.
Residents can review rainfall totals through the district’s Daily Hydrologic Data webpage. Water-level data is available through the district’s Environmental Data Portal and the USGS National Water Dashboard.
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