This past week the South Florida Water Management District issued a water shortage warning for Collier and Lee County. With only 42 inches of rainfall along the Southwest coast this rainy season, groundwater reservoirs are exceptionally low and are expected to decline in volume throughout the rest of the dry season. 

While a formal water shortage has not yet been declared, Collier County encourages residents to limit water usage before enforcing mandatory limits. Simple lifestyle changes like turning off the faucet, taking shorter showers, and efficiently using the dishwasher and washing machine can reduce overall water usage, lessening the impacts of the drought. Not only will saving water benefit the groundwater levels but also lessen your monthly water bills. 

Another contributing factor to water shortages during Florida’s dry season is irrigation systems. With little rainfall, many plants and landscapes need to be watered in order to survive. Investing in low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants would allow people to use less water in irrigation and save money. This further lessens the impacts of drought during the dry season. 

Water reservoirs won’t be replenished until the next rainy season, so groundwater levels will continue to decline. We must continue efforts to conserve water to make sure that we can comfortably last until next season.