Water Limits Are Tightening: District Officials Say the Drought Among Worst Ever

By Kevin Wadlow, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon

Apr. 4–Weather that delights tourists means more restrictive water-use rules loom for the Florida Keys.

All of Southeast Florida likely will be placed under Phase 2 rules that further limit the use of potable water for lawn watering and vehicle washing, South Florida Water Management District officials said Tuesday.

“This is one of the worst droughts we’ve ever seen,” said Carol Ann Wehle, executive director of the district. “Mother Nature is dealing us a very serious hand today.”

If the district governing board approves the change in the water-emergency declaration next week as expected, the rules would take effect April 13 – Friday the 13th. That’s a case of unfortunate timing, Wehle said.

Under Phase 2 rules:

— Florida Keys residents would be limited to routine lawn and plant watering two days a week, from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m.

— Vehicle washing would be limited to 4 to 8 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. two days a week.

“Our lawns are going to start looking pretty brown and our plants may not be as robust, but that’s a small price to pay [to preserve] drinking water for the large population on the east coast,” Wahle said.

Previously, water-emergency rules limited the non-essential water uses to three days a week.

Businesses and residences around Lake Okeechobee, the source of the concern, face even more restrictive rules.

Lake Okeechobee, a primary water reserve for all South Florida, has plummeted to historic lows, according to the district.

“I’ll bet the tourist industry is absolutely giddy about the weather we’ve been having for the last four weeks,” Wahle said.

But the clear skies produced scant rainfall, while allowing evaporation from Lake Okeechobee to accelerate.

The lake drops nearly nine-tenths of a foot in a 30-day period. “We’ve never measured a drop like that before,” Wahle said.

Water-supply problems combined with a 2006 hurricane season that was not nearly as wet as expected. The lake had been drawn down to prepare for massive of amounts of water generated by a hurricane.

Then came months of below-average rainfall.

Lake Okeechobee stood at 10.34 feet Tuesday – nearly 4 feet below the historical average. Lake levels are determined by an average of depth measurements at checkpoints around the lake.

Within a day or so, the drought likely will officially become more severe than the 2001 drought, the worst in recent history.

The lowest level recorded in 2001 was 8.97 feet.

“If the drought continues, we will have a level as much as a foot lower than that,” Wahle said.

Florida Keys lawns can survive with less water, said John Cyples of J&J Lawn Service in the Lower Keys.

“They don’t need all that,” he said. “In a water shortage, [two days a week] is more than appropriate.”

Under Phase 2, no watering or vehicle washing will be permitted Mondays, Tuesdays or Fridays.

Addresses that end with an even number can water and wash cars in the limited hours on Thursday and Sunday.

Wednesday and Saturday are for odd-numbered addresses.

Boats can be rinsed for 15 minutes after a trip in saltwater.

Local code-enforcement officers handle enforcement of the regulations. The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority does not have enforcement power.

—–

Copyright (c) 2007, Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.