Continued Drought Conditions Force New Water Restrictions
Extreme Water Shortage Declared for Palm Beach and Broward Counties;
Severe Water Shortage Expanded to Martin & St. Lucie Counties

West Palm Beach, FL – With recent rains doing little to alleviate drought-related conditions across South Florida, the South Florida Water Management District’s (SFWMD) Governing Board today declared an extreme water shortage for eastern Broward and Palm Beach counties. The two southeast coastal counties are the first primarily residential areas to be placed in modified Phase III water use restrictions since the agency adopted a phased water shortage plan more than two decades ago.

"During the past two months, the District has called upon local businesses, residents and our government partners to practice aggressive water conservation to stretch our municipal water supplies, and these efforts have made a difference," said SFWMD Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle. "Unfortunately, South Florida is facing one of the worst droughts on record. Four of our coastal wellfields are at risk of saltwater intrusion, and we simply need to do more to protect our regional water resources."

The following new restrictions will become effective at 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, May 16:

• Eastern Palm Beach and Broward counties (defined as all lands east of the Water Conservation Areas), and a small portion of Martin County are required to follow Phase III restrictions, limiting outdoor water use to one day a week.

• Agricultural users in the Indian Prairie Basin will transition to Phase III restrictions.

• As part of a severe water shortage declaration in the District’s Upper East Coast Service Area, Martin and St. Lucie counties will be required to follow modified Phase II restrictions, limiting outdoor water use to two days a week.

• In response to concerns over elevated chloride levels in coastal wellfields along eastern Broward and Palm Beach counties, water utilities in Lake Worth, Lantana, Hallandale and Dania Beach are required to cease or shift pumpage from certain coastal wells.

~ See New Orders

At 9.37 feet above sea level, the current water level in Lake Okeechobee is within five inches of its record low of 8.97 feet, recorded in 2001. The primary back-up water supply for most South Florida residents, the lake is so low this year that its waters cannot be used to replenish the regional supply. If drought conditions persist, water managers expect the lake level to reach a new record low elevation within weeks.

Over the past several weeks, the District has documented more than 200 water restriction violations by consumptive use permit holders such as homeowners associations, golf courses and other water users. Under Florida State Statutes, the District is authorized to seek civil penalties of up to $10,000 per offense per day for water use violations. In addition, local municipalities have reported issuing more than 9,400 warnings and citations for violations of the current residential and commercial water use restrictions.

For additional information, residents can call the SFWMD's toll-free Water Shortage Hotline at 1-800-662-8876 or contact their regional SFWMD Service Center. Helpful water conservation tips, TV and radio public service announcements, and specific information on current water use restrictions are available at www.sfwmd.gov/conserve.