Watering restrictions extended as drought continues

TAMPA -- The current watering restrictions for the Tampa Bay area will remain through June and could get even tougher, the water agency that oversees the 16 counties of Southwest Florida announced today.

Blame the ongoing drought.

The restrictions, which have been in place since last January, have already been extended
twice and were supposed to expire Friday. The restrictions now limit lawn watering to once a week. Irrigation must occur before 8 a.m., while evening watering cannot begin until after 6 p.m.

It is possible that the Southwest Florida Water Management District could impose even tougher restrictions in the coming months as the drought continues.

"The conditions are very serious, and we expect it to get worse in the spring," said spokesman Mike Molligan. "We're looking at a very serious drought ahead."

For now the worst conditions are in the Sarasota area, where the Peace River-Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority has enough water available only for the next 100 days of supply. Water district executive director David Moore said he will meet with county officials there this week to try to help them get some emergency supplies.

Two people urged the district, commonly known as Swiftmud, to consider even tougher steps now, such as banning all outdoor watering and halting water-use permits for new development.

"It's time to send a message," said Octavio Blanco, a veterinarian from Lutz who has frequently battled Swiftmud over development threatening wetlands on his property.

Meanwhile, voluntary water cutbacks in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties start Tuesday because a major pipeline will be turned off. The construction should be finished by Dec. 2.

- Craig Pittman, Times staff writer

Comments

[Steven Tamayo]

i will continue to water my lawn every day, despite what these clowns "approve"

[Florida Native]

Time to ban St. Augustine/Floratam grass. I have bahia, wild bermuda, and carpetgrass. I hardly ever water.

[Richard Johnson]

"i will continue to water my lawn every day, despite what these clowns "approve"

Posted by: Steven Tamayo | November 26, 2007 at 12:37 PM

So I deduce you would rather have green grass than clean drinking water.....

[Jesse Goodwin]

the only things these "clowns" are doing is protecting one of our only sources of water, once its gone its too late and clowns like you will then be complaining "why does it cost so much for this alternative source water". In todays world, how does one become so selfish to put their landscaping above the future generations water supply ?

[Cali]

when the development stops, i'll start conserving.

I can't believe how spoiled and selfish steven tamayo and cali must be. Instead of playing childish games like we accuse our governments of doing, why not act like adults? When you have to drink boiled water and limit your showers, we'll see how you feel about it then. Oh, that's right, you'll probably be the first to whine and complain about that too.

I find it amazing how there is a water shortage whens we know how to clone humans but we can not make H2O. We also know how to convert salt water to fresh water but unfortunately we wait for rain. I need help, does anyone know how to start a fire......?I think it is bad we are in a shaortage but where is our technology going?

[mike]

There always jerks who wash their cars or water their yards everyday...like there is no drought...I even lived next to a Sargent sheriff deputy who watered his yard every day...

[Bob]

"when the development stops", Cali says. Won't happen. People want to live in Florida and will move here. People want to sell or develop their properties, in order to improve their own lives. To prohibit either is impossible, constitutionally. Even if we could "stop" growth (development), it would result only in home prices being bid up so high that only the wealthy could move here and less prosperous Floridians would be displaced, unable to stay where they are. Florida WILL CONTINUE TO GROW. Let's get past the growth/no growth question and focus on how best to deal with this inevitable growth.

[spank]

They actually know how to make water. Do your research.