Dec 15, 2007 8:52 am US/Eastern
Unprecedented Water Restrictions Begin January 15
Phase III Restrictions Limit Outside Watering To Once-A-Week
WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) ―
While much of the U.S. will enjoy a white Christmas, South Florida could be in very a brown Christmas after South Florida water managers voted Thursday to approve the region's tightest water restrictions ever as drought conditions persist.
Board members of the South Florida Water Management District approved phase III restrictions Thursday afternoon, meaning odd numbered homes will only be able to water their lawns and wash their cars on Mondays only. Even numbered homes will only be able to water their lawns Thursdays. The hours for both days are from 4 a.m.-8a.m. and from 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
"So if part of your yard is turning brown or your plants are dying, you can get out there and water with one hose and an automatic shut off nozzle at any time for a period of up to 10 minutes per stressed area," said Jesus Rodriguez of SFWMD.
The new rules would take effect January 15th. The restrictions will be in effect from Orlando to the Keys. Most of South Florida is currently under a twice-a-week watering restriction-Phase II.
It would be the first time the water district has imposed the severe restrictions uniformly throughout its 16 county territory.
"What we have to do now, as water management and resident is try to protect and stretch that water supply as best we can over the course of the dry season," said Rodriguez.
South Florida resident Mindy Trodella says not being able to water her lawn will bother her but she understands. "That's okay. It's brown up north and snowing cold and here it's always really green and a little too green for Christmas so it is what it is. Nature's way," Trodella told CBS4.
Like much of the Southeast, Florida is seeing its worst drought in decades as it enters a seven-month dry season, and experts warn no significant rainfall is expected for months to come.
The district says about half of South Florida's public water supply gets used for lawn watering and other outdoor irrigation. Despite downpours during the rainy season, South Florida still hasn't recovered from the drought.
Lake Okeechobee, the main backup water supply for South Florida, remains about five feet below normal. Water managers say in the last 11 months, rainfall across the 16 county region covered by the SFWMD averaged only 41.6 inches, or about 8 inches below normal. To make matters worse, forecasters predict a dryer than normal winter.
Trodella says forget "going green", she says "let's go brown". "People are hogs when it come to water, people water their grass whether they need it or not on a regular schedule. It's a waste."
The goal of the restriction is to cut back irrigation usage by 45%. As it stands now, Miami-Dade and Broward use 6 million gallons of water a day--half of that is for lawns.
Click Here for more information on the water shortage emergency and details about current water restrictions in your neighborhood.
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