Nearly 3 feet of rainfall deficit remains as drought recovery continues

While recent rainfall has brought welcome relief to portions of northeast and central Florida, the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) is reminding residents, businesses and large water users that drought recovery will take time.

Although many areas have received frequent rainfall in recent weeks, the District remains nearly 3 feet below its normal rainfall totals. It will take sustained, above-average rainfall over an extended period to replenish groundwater supplies, restore river flows and recover from months of accumulated rainfall deficits.

Recent rainfall has helped improve conditions in some areas, but summer conditions also influence how much water reaches the aquifer. In July, an average of 5.17 inches of water is lost through the natural processes of evaporation and plant use. With 6.84 inches of rainfall during the month, only a small amount of that rainfall remains available to help recharge groundwater supplies. Above-average rainfall over an extended period is needed for water resources to fully recover.

The District’s Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration remains in effect throughout the affected areas. The declaration was issued in response to prolonged drought conditions, declining groundwater levels and reduced surface water flows.

Mandatory restrictions remain in place, including:

• Residential and commercial properties are limited to one day per week of landscape irrigation.
• Landscape irrigation is prohibited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.
• Commercial and industrial users must suspend certain non-essential water uses.
• Golf course fairway irrigation is limited to one day per week.
• Aesthetic water use, such as decorative fountains, is prohibited.
• Street and pressure washing activities face additional restrictions.
• Irrigation restrictions for new plantings, including sod, have been tightened.

Outdoor irrigation continues to represent one of the greatest demands on potable water supplies. Residents are encouraged to verify that irrigation timers are set correctly to ensure that irrigation occurs only on their designated watering day and only during allowable hours. Irrigation systems should also be checked for leaks, and sprinklers should only water landscaped areas, not streets, sidewalks or driveways.

District staff continue to monitor rainfall totals, groundwater levels, river flows and other drought indicators to evaluate recovery and determine when water shortage restrictions can be modified or lifted.

To view the complete water shortage order, including detailed requirements for each water use category and water conservation tips, visit sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.

Residents may occasionally see irrigation systems operating in public spaces such as parks, medians and common areas during the water shortage. In many cases, these systems use reclaimed water, which is a highly treated recycled water source that helps reduce demand on potable groundwater supplies. While conservation remains important across all water sources, some reclaimed water systems must continue operating to maintain system function or manage storage capacity.

To learn more about reclaimed water and its beneficial uses, visit https://floridadep.gov/water/domestic-wastewater/content/floridas-reuse-program.