'Extreme' water restrictions now in place, impacting Charlotte County restaurants

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (WINK)—The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board declared a Modified Phase III "Extreme" Water Shortage, requiring all residents to follow one-day-per-week watering restrictions with stricter hours.

One restriction prevents restaurants from serving water until a customer asks for it.

" It's not gonna make an impact on the water situation because everybody's still gonna get something to drink every day," said Lee Richardson, owner of Leroy's. "Water's used in every fountain soda and everything like that. So if you bring in water or you bring them a soda or you bring them tea, it's all being made by the water."

This new regulation will not change Leroy's workflow, who already provides water when customers ask for it.

" I truly don't see how a restaurant serving a few glasses of water is gonna make an impact on whatever water shortage they're claiming we have right now," said Richardson.

Customers having lunch in Leroy's said they didn't mind being brought water immediately.

" I don't see any point in wasting water, and too many times, people don't really want the water. They don't drink it. It's just there unused," said Marcia Ling. " There's no need for everybody to get a glass of water unless they want a glass of water."

Southwest Florida Water Management District said that when restaurants only provide water upon request, it reduces water in the cup and prevents water waste during extra dishwashing. An 8-oz. glass of water requires an additional 16 oz. to wash.

" This is new, but I agree with it. It's like, if you want water, you can ask for it. There's no harm, nothing lost," said Melissa Brown.

The group having lunch was more concerned about the drought than the restrictions implemented because of it.

" We're all concerned about lawns, but it is what it is," said Christine Kwak. "I mean, if we're low on water... Lawn's got to go. "

Watering hours are reduced to 12:01 to 4 a.m. or 8 to 11:59 p.m., unless a city or county already has stricter hours in effect. Properties less than one acre in size may only use one of these windows.

Properties one acre or larger may only water before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m., unless a city or county already has stricter hours in effect. Low-volume watering of plants and shrubs is allowed any day, but only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

Other restrictions include allowing pressure washing only in preparation for painting and sealing. No homeowners association or other entity shall enforce deed restrictions requiring an increase in water use, including replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards or pressure washing.

Car washing at home is allowed only on the property's lawn watering day and must use a hose with a shutoff nozzle. Aesthetic fountains are limited to 4 hours a day, and restaurants are required to serve water only upon request.

The standard watering schedule assigns watering days based on the last digit of a property's address. Addresses ending in 0 or 1 may water only on Monday; 2 or 3 on Tuesday; 4 or 5 on Wednesday; 6 or 7 on Thursday; and 8 or 9 on Friday.

The restrictions apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter counties, portions of Charlotte, Highlands, and Lake counties, the City of Dunnellon, and The Villages in Marion County, and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Charlotte County from April 3 through July 1. The district received below average rainfall during its summer rainy season and currently has a 13.7-inch regional rainfall deficit compared to the average 12-month total.

Water levels in the district's water resources, such as aquifers, rivers, and lakes, are continuing to decline, and many are severely abnormal. Public water supplies are extremely low for this time of year.

Outdoor water use accounts for more than 50% of household water consumption. Residents should check with their city or county for their allowable days and times, as many have different schedules or stricter hours in effect.

The order requires local utilities to continue implementing water conservation efforts, including customer education about the current water shortage and ways to conserve water. Water utilities and other local enforcement officials must increase their enforcement efforts, including responding to citizen complaints and monitoring water use through patrols or customer records.

Starting 14 days after the effective date of the water shortage order, utilities and other local enforcement officials must issue citations first, without issuing a warning. The district issued three emergency orders on March 19 to ensure water supply availability during the ongoing drought.

Charlotte County Utilities said Water Restriction Violations may be pursued by the County’s Code Compliance department. Failure to adhere to the restrictions may result in a fine of up to $300.

An emergency order was issued to the City of Punta Gorda to temporarily withdraw up to an additional 2.2 million gallons per day from Shell Creek to provide to the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority. The order expires July 1.