| 10 December 2008
Drought conditions Imperil Water Supplies
All 16 Counties in the Southwest Florida Water Management District are in drought conditions. If we are forced to tap ground water for basic needs wetlands, and many creeks and estuaries essential for juvenile game fish habitat will dry out. Water needs are essential for all life turf is not.
Rainfall in Florida is below historic averages and has been for almost three years. The lack of rain is beginning to stress water supplies.
Late January/early February will be when the coastal drought alarm rings if the normally infrequent rainfalls are insufficient to restore reserves.
If rainfall doesn't increase and people don't conserve, Hillsborough County's drinking water reservoir could be empty by April, according to Robyn Felix, spokeswoman for the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
"Unfortunately, if the reservoir does go dry, most likely we'll not be able to continue pulling surface water from the Alafia [River] because it's very low and we're in the dry season. So what's going to happen is they're probably going to have to begin taking additional water from the ground"
How Does Your Home Add Up?
Calculate how much water you use indoors and outdoors with a new Web Tool developed by the St. Johns River Water Management District.
The online home water use survey features an animated 3D image of a home showing typical appliances, landscaping and other areas where water is used.
Visitors to the page can click on the home’s features, defined by flashing dots, to receive a water conservation tip or to type personal water use information.
Using information provided by the user, the tool calculates water use and provides totals for indoor and outdoor water usage, as well as a grand total, and issues a report at its completion.
"Many people don’t realize just how much water we use in our homes every day," says Jeff Cole, director of the St.John Water Management District’s Office of Communications and Governmental Affairs. "The home water use Web tool can help you attain a reasonable estimate of your own water usage and learn ways to save water at home, which also can save you money and, in many cases, effort."
Directing downspouts to Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens is one way to conserve water and money.
Full story click here for WUSF News link to article
Taking water from the ground, such as wells, could further impact lakes, wetlands and estuaries.
The Alafia River is so low that it is no longer able to provide water for public supplies and Tampa's main drinking water supply -- the Hillsborough River -- is near historic low levels.
All 16 counties in the water district are in drought conditions. But Felix said the region around Tampa Bay has been hit the hardest.
Conserving water is good for snook and the environment, and can also help homeowners save money on utility bills, spend less time on home maintenance, and worry less about mold and mildew damage caused by leaking water. Check out the home survey at this link Web Tool developed by the St. Johns River Water Management District.
