From the St. Johns River Water Management District
In Summary:
Mandatory water restrictions in parts of Central Florida are tightening as drought conditions worsen. The St. Johns River Water Management District announced Phase III Extreme Water Shortage measures this week, citing low rainfall, declining aquifer levels, and reduced surface water flows. The new restrictions include one-day-per-week irrigation schedules, limits on golf course watering, bans on aesthetic water use, and expanded restrictions in Lake County.
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The St. Johns River Water Management District (District) is issuing a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration in response to ongoing exceptional drought conditions, declining groundwater levels, and reduced surface water flows across northeast and central Florida.
Related: The rise of extreme weather and how it’s impacting power outages and fire watch needs.
“The move to Phase III reflects the severity of current drought conditions and the need for immediate action to reduce water demand,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Director of Water Supply and Assessment Clay Coarsey “Protecting our water resources requires a collective effort. Residents, businesses, agricultural operations and large water users all play an important role in helping conserve supplies during these prolonged dry conditions.”
District staff evaluated rainfall totals, aquifer levels, river flows, and drought indicators before recommending the action. Despite earlier conservation measures, conditions have continued to worsen due to a lack of rainfall, requiring additional mandatory restrictions to help protect regional water resources.
Under Phase III restrictions, landscape irrigation remains limited to one day per week for residential, commercial, and institutional properties, including managed landscapes and athletic fields. Restrictions on irrigation for new plantings, including sod, have also been tightened.
The amount of rainfall shown above is what would be needed over the next three months to improve extreme drought conditions. Even with that rainfall, drought conditions are expected to persist.
Additional Phase III measures include:
- The water shortage order is being expanded into the District’s portion of Lake County.
- Commercial, industrial, and institutional users must suspend certain non-essential water uses.
- Irrigation for golf course fairways is limited to one day per week.
- Aesthetic water use is prohibited, and additional restrictions apply to activities such as street and pressure washing.
- Landscape irrigation is prohibited between 8 am and 6 pm.
The District is urging all water users to eliminate unnecessary water use, suspend non-essential activities, and prepare for additional restrictions if drought conditions persist.
Outdoor irrigation remains one of the greatest demands on potable water supplies, making conservation efforts especially important during extended periods of dry weather.
The District’s Water Shortage Plan allows for progressively stronger measures if conditions continue to worsen. Taking steps to conserve water now can help reduce strain on water resources and lessen the need for additional restrictions in the future.
If you haven't already, please reset your irrigation timer to run only one day per week, between 6 pm and 8 am, as soon as possible. Residents are also encouraged to inspect irrigation systems for leaks and to ensure sprinklers are watering only landscaped areas, not streets, sidewalks, or driveways, to help prevent unnecessary water waste during the ongoing drought.
To view the complete water shortage order, including detailed requirements for each water use category and water conservation tips, visit sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.
Please note that residents may occasionally see irrigation systems operating in public spaces such as parks, medians, and common areas during the water shortage. In many cases, these systems use reclaimed water, which is a highly treated recycled water source that helps reduce demand on potable groundwater supplies. While conservation remains important across all water sources, some reclaimed water systems must continue operating to maintain system function or manage storage capacity.
To learn more about reclaimed water and its beneficial uses, please visit https://floridadep.gov/water/domestic-wastewater/content/floridas-reuse-program.
Key Points:
- The St. Johns River Water Management District declared a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage due to ongoing exceptional drought conditions.
- Landscape irrigation remains limited to one day per week and is prohibited between 8 am and 6 pm.
- Restrictions have expanded into the District’s portion of Lake County.
- Commercial, industrial, and institutional users must suspend certain non-essential water uses, including some aesthetic applications and pressure washing activities.
- Officials warned that additional restrictions could be implemented if dry conditions continue and urged residents to immediately reduce unnecessary water consumption.
About the St. Johns River Water Management District
St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the District and the people of the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida that manage groundwater and surface water supplies. The District encompasses all or part of 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff are also available to serve the public at service centers in Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.
For more information about the District, please visit www.sjrwmd.com.
