Water regulators in Tampa, Fla., are considering a new round of restrictions to combat three years of drought conditions.
Among the restrictions:
- Reduce the hours lawn sprinklers can run on watering days.
- A ban on non-commercial car washing and pressure-washing.
- New limits on hand-watering plants and landscaping.
Just 1 billion gallons of water remain in the 15-billion gallon C.W. "Bill" Young Regional Reservoir, and most of that will be gone in 30 days. With river flows reduced by 80 percent, Tampa Bay Water has nowhere from which to replenish the reservoir.
The utility is asking the Southwest Florida Water Management District to declare a phase 4 emergency that would result in the tougher watering restrictions. The water district will consider the request Feb. 24.
Rainfall across west-central Florida is now 26.8 inches below normal over the past three years. Last year's summer rainy season ended in mid-August when Tropical Storm Faye sucked moisture out of the area.
"As things started to dry out in August and September, Tampa Bay Water started seeing demand for irrigation spiking up at a time when we wouldn't normally see that," said district spokeswoman Robyn Felix.
With the slow-flowing rivers now off-limits as a water source, Tampa Bay Water may soon be forced to increase groundwater pumping.
In August, the utility announced it was lowering water levels in the reservoir to 2 billion gallons so engineers could investigate the cause of cracks. If that action had not been taken, the reservoir would now have an additional three to four weeks of supply, said Mark Sharpe, who sits on the Tampa Bay Water board.
On Feb. 16, the utility authorized the transfer of $15 million from a rainy day fund to keep the water flowing to customers.
"We're really trying to get the message out to people that we're in a crucial water supply situation," said Alison Adams, Tampa Bay Water senior manager.