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Water Users Put On Notice

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 27, 2009

This week the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District could have tightened once-a-week watering restrictions as drought continues to strain drinking-water supplies. Doing so would have been easily justified.

But board members, to their credit, decided to give the public another chance. It could be the last opportunity to avoid an unprecedented mandate of not being able to water outdoors at all until this crisis passes.

And make no mistake, this is a crisis. Since 2006 average rainfall in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties is more than two feet below normal. Rivers are way low - especially the Hillsborough, a vital source of drinking water. Tampa Bay Water's 15-billion-gallon reservoir in Hillsborough, already crippled by cracks, could be drained by next month.

And the dry season, when water use normally skyrockets, will begin soon.

Without substantial rain and public cooperation, it's likely that Tampa Bay Water, which provides drinking water to member governments, will once again heavily depend upon regional wellfields. Such reliance in the past damaged wetlands and lakes, but the development of alternative water sources enabled the environment to recover. A return to past destruction must be avoided.

This means that elected officials, government administrators and utility directors need to show leadership by greatly stepping up conservation measures and public campaigns. And in some cases they need to take steps they've never taken before to force the public to conserve drinking water.

These measures, which water managers and the district's government board urged local governments to consider this week, should include adopting ordinances and rules creating drought surcharges geared toward grabbing the attention of high-end water users.

Such an extra fee is clearly needed. Those who ignore water restrictions should have to pay - in addition to being fined by code enforcement officers. And people who otherwise waste water should have to pay, too. Revenue generated by this surcharge should be used to hire additional officers and workers responsible for enforcing water restrictions.

In addition, local officials should consider imposing a "reclaimed water availability fee" on people in areas where reclaimed water lines are within easy reach but customers have chosen not to connect. This move would encourage residents to connect to these systems, reducing or even eliminating the wasteful practice of irrigating with drinking water.

Reducing water pressure is another viable option. This could result in a water savings of 2 percent to 4 percent, water managers say. Forgoing all outdoor watering is an even better option considering this crisis.

Encouraging restaurants and other establishments to only serve drinking water upon request is another move that would conserve water. It makes sense. A glass of water shouldn't be a table ornament that goes to waste.

The governing board took the right step by continuing the current watering restrictions, which were only tightened a few months ago. Some businesses, such as painting companies that need to pressure-wash buildings, could have been greatly affected, so the board's reluctance to impose tougher limits is understandable.

The current Phase III restrictions give the district more options than the more stringent Phase IV. The goal, after all, is to get more people aboard the conservation movement.

Now that the public is on notice, no one can say they weren't given another chance. We all need to make the most of it.

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