Marco Island faces water restrictions amid severe drought

MARCO ISLAND - Marco Island is now facing water restrictions due to the ongoing severe drought in Southwest Florida.

City officials have recommended specific schedules for using sprinklers to conserve water from the Florida aquifer.

Voluntary restrictions were announced, suggesting residents reduce landscape irrigation to three days a week.

Michael Simone, a local resident, shared his approach to the restrictions.

"I'm going to use my New York mentality, and this is the mentality up there, is that this is not a growing season. So I'm going to wait for the growing season, which is more March, April," said Simone. "I mean, up there, we don't plan anything till Mother's Day or after. So that's my idea. I'm not going to let it bother me because it is too nice down here. So you know, the plants will come back. This is tropic, so come the summer, I know I'll be cutting things back like crazy, because they're going to be growing like crazy."

These measures will remain in place until significant rainfall occurs. Residents are encouraged to adjust their irrigation practices to help combat the dry conditions.