West Palm Beach, FL - Falling water levels and extremely dry conditions that are expected to linger led the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board to issue today a water shortage warning to all 8.1 million residents in the agency's 16 counties.

"The purpose of this warning is to urge South Florida families to voluntarily conserve more water," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Dan O'Keefe. "This effort will help your water supply last through the remainder of the dry season."

The most beneficial conservation practice is compliance with the District's year-round landscape irrigation conservation measures and any local landscape irrigation ordinance. These rules can be found at www.sfwmd.gov/mywateringdays. If voluntary water conservation efforts prove insufficient, the Governing Board may consider further mandatory water use restrictions to equitably distribute the remaining water supplies and prevent serious harm to water resources. 

On Tuesday, the Governing Board  issued a temporary ban on all open fires and campfires on District lands. The ban includes lands open for recreational purposes in Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee, Osceola and Polk counties.  Additionally, SFWMD's  prohibitions could be expanded to other locations throughout the District if drought conditions continue. 

The wet season typically begins June 1.

Current Conditions:

• March only saw 34 percent of average rainfall District-wide
• This is 1.88 inches below average
• Miami-Dade County was the only area from Orlando to the Keys that received near normal rainfall
• Since the start of the dry season on Nov. 1, SFWMD has only seen 44 percent of average rainfall
• This is 6.75 inches below average

More Information:

• Watering Rules
• SFWMD's SOUNDSCIENCE Podcast: April is Water Conservation Month