Bay Area under new water restrictions

TAMPA - Members of the Southwest Florida Water Management District knew Tuesday's meeting would bring dire news. However, they may not have been prepared for what they heard.

"This is an extreme water shortage," said Executive Director David Moore. So extreme that the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir, capable of holding 5 billion gallons of water, is going to be empty in two or three weeks.

Because of that, Tampa Bay Water asked the water management district's board to impose the toughest water use rules. Phase four rules would include a complete ban on outdoor water use.
"Unexpected rainfall would be great," Moore said.

Despite the dire warnings about one of the biggest sources of drinking water going dry, the board opted instead to add restrictions to existing rules.

Among them, asking restaurants to supply water only upon request, asking utilities to reduce water pressure where possible and impose extra fees on heavy water users.

An executive with Tampa Bay Water is sure the area will not run out of water completely.

"We will be able to use ground water and our desalinated water," Jerry Seeder said. "Our 'de-sal' facility produced 22 million gallons yesterday." The problem is that Tampa Bay Water pumps out more than 90-million gallons a day.

Water managers say the phase three water restrictions were designed to reduce demand by 10-percent. Since they were implemented in October, demand has declined by just two percent.

If people conserve, like watering lawns only when necessary, water managers say they believe they can continue to supply water even during the dry season.