MANATEE — Water restrictions were eased for Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties after the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted Thursday.
Manatee County, which has a “severe” water shortage alert, can have slightly more leeway in watering practices. Micro-irrigations can be used at anytime on any day, cars can be washed once a week and large fountains can be run eight hours per day, under the new guidelines. Lawn watering is still limited to a once per week schedule and is limited to times before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. for properties that are under one acre in size.
The board lifted the phase III restrictions and moved to phase II restrictions after some of the water levels were restored from summer rainfall. There also were recent improvements with the opening of 6-billion gallon water reservoir, which has allowed the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority to store river water for later use.
Officials have warned the drought is not over, though.
“October is the first month of our eight month dry season, and has been even drier than normal,” said Granville Kinsman, the district’s hydrologic data manager, in a statement. “The effects of our four-year drought can still be seen in our lakes, streams and groundwater. Unless we receive above-normal rainfall this winter, further declines are expected through May.”
For more information about watering restrictions, go to www. swfwmd.state.fl.us.
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