Water Restrictions Could Soon be Permanent
12 NEWS
2009-11-04
November 04, 2009 6:07 PM
Dry conditions are a big problem throughout south Florida.
Looking at the drought index nearly every county in our area is about 500.
Anything over that level is high.
Because of these dry conditions we are still under year 'round water restrictions.
Water managers say it's important to do your part to conserve water now.
George Hannah is a retired firefighter who lives in suburban West Palm Beach.
His lawn has some brown spots, he says, because it's been so dry.
But he's okay with the current restrictions that allow him to water his yard only two days a week.
"I think I'm getting used to 'em. As long as they don't go back to the only washing your car here and there and stuff like that. But watering the lawn two days a week is usually enough. You can live with that, huh? I can live with that," Hannah said.
Now the two-day-a-week restriction on lawn watering could soon be permanent, year 'round. Hannah is not convinced it's necessary to make it a permanent thing.
"The year 'round, I really don't think we need it. Why is that? Well we have a lot of water here. We're in the tropics. And it does rain a lot," Hannah said.
But experts at the South Florida Water Management District say October could go down as the driest October on record.
And the dry season which usually starts in November has started early this year.
It's almost inevitable that we will have to go to permanent water restrictions.
"The prudent thing to do is to go to some sort of year 'round conservation just because the weather is so unpredictable down here," said Randy Smith, spokesman for the South Florida Water Management District.
Smith says we've already got some monitoring wells that are in the yellow and red stage, a sign that the underground aquifer where most of our drinking water comes from is lower than normal.
Water restrictions are in effect for our entire viewing area, in Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, and Palm Beach County. Odd-numbered addresses can water lawns Wednesday and Saturday, even addresses can water Thursday and Sunday.
Year around water restrictions could be coming soon, and your thirsty lawn may see little relief.
Violating the two-day-a-week water restrictions could result in a warning or a fine of over $100.
You can wash your car anytime. The restrictions apply to lawn watering only.
Smith says the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board could decide to make the water restrictions permanent when it meets next week in Key Largo.
