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Dry September Spurs Extension Of Watering Restrictions

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 30, 2008

Updated: 09/30/2008 03:49 pm

TAMPA - Regional water authorities voted today to extend once-a-week watering restrictions through February.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District board took the action because a drier-than-normal rainy season has failed to replenish lakes, rivers and groundwater diminished by a two-year drought

"Despite the better rainfall this past year, we have not seen recovery to pre-drought conditions," said Granville Kinsman, a hydrologic data manager for the district.

Counties in the district's central region, which includes the Tampa Bay area, had received a little more than an inch of rain through Wednesday. Normal rainfall for the month is about 7 inches.

Rainfall from January through August in the central region was 40.49 inches; historical average rainfall for that period is 38.24 inches. The area is headed into its dry season, which usually lasts into the spring.

"We were getting normal rainfall in 2008 right up to Tropical Storm Fay," water district spokeswoman Robyn Felix said. "Fay dried the area out, and we never returned to normal rainfall.

The district switched from twice- to once-a-week lawn and garden watering in January 2007. It last extended the restrictions June 24 because of low lake, river and groundwater levels.

"Groundwater and river levels peaked in August," Felix said. "Since then it's been a downward spiral."

Lakes in the district's central region, which includes Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties, are 3.1 feet lower than expected.

Stream flows in the Alafia, Hillsborough, Peace and Withlacoochee rivers also are below normal levels. Since Sept. 15, Tampa Bay Water, the regional water supplier, has not been able to take water from the Alafia to boost the drinking water supply.

Tampa Bay Water today urged customers to conserve water and follow their designated water restrictions.

Get information on conservation, watering restrictions and the regional water supply at www.tampabaywater.org and www.watermatters.org.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett contributed to this report. Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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