SWFWMD Declares Phase I Water Shortage Beginning Dec. 1st

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board voted today to declare a Phase I water shortage for the District's entire 16-county area beginning Dec. 1. The Phase I alert is intended to raise the public's awareness of dry conditions, and to direct water utilities and their local governments to prepare for worsening conditions. Under Phase I, residents are asked to check their irrigation systems to ensure they are working properly. This means testing and repairing broken pipes and leaks, and damaged or tilted sprinkler heads. Residents should also check their irrigation timer to ensure the settings are correct and the rain sensor is working properly in accordance with state law.
There are no changes to watering days or times in a Phase 1 water shortage therefore the District's year-round water conservations measures remain in effect; lawn and landscape watering remains limited to a two-day-per-week schedule, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.