Last week, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) voted to extend the current Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Restrictions through October 1, 2026.Before officials enacted these restrictions earlier this year, we had not seen a Phase III shortage since 2017. Back then, the district called it the “driest dry season in 103 years.” However, that 2017 shortage lasted just under two months. As we approach this upcoming Independence Day, we are entering the third month of the current shortage, and officials expect it to last for at least three more months.
Why Officials Extended the Florida Water Shortage
Officials extended the “Extreme” Water Shortage declaration because of our ongoing lack of rain. When the district first declared the shortage in April, our region faced a 12-month rainfall deficit of almost 14 inches. Now that June is here, we have officially started our rainy season. However, the deficit has only improved slightly to 11 inches. The Water Management District also points to dropping water levels in local rivers, lakes, public water supplies, and other water resources as a major reason for the extension.
Why We Need Irrigation Restrictions
Private lawn irrigation puts a massive strain on our local drinking water supplies. If push comes to shove, we unfortunately cannot drink our lawns.
According to SWFWMD, household irrigation makes up about 20% of all water use across the 16-county district. Sarasota County Public Utilities reports a similar trend right here at home. Even more shocking, irrigation often accounts for 50% or more of the total water a home uses if it has an automatic sprinkler system.
Unfortunately, a lot of this water goes to waste. The average private irrigation system in Florida runs at only 70% efficiency. Furthermore, many homeowners believe their lawns need much more water than they actually do. When we look at these facts, it becomes clear that we can save a huge amount of water simply by irrigating properly.
Improve Your Landscape and Save Water
It might sound surprising, but water-saving best practices can actually improve the health and appearance of your landscape. Consider two hypothetical examples:
Homeowner A waters their lawn and plant beds with traditional sprinklers every single night at sunset. Because the grass never has to work to find water, it’s prone to growing short, weak roots. The traditional sprinklers soak the lawn and the plant leaves. The foliage stays damp all night, inviting pests and plant diseases.
Homeowner B waters her lawn just once a week on her designated watering day. She runs her system with high-efficiency sprinkler heads at 3:00 AM. She waters her landscape beds at the same time, but she uses a separate zone equipped with micro-irrigation and a thick layer of mulch. Her system finishes right before sunrise. This timing allows the water to soak deep into the soil, while the morning sun evaporates any extra moisture.
Because Homeowner B waters less often but more deeply, her grass can grow long, strong roots. Her micro-irrigation system delivers water directly to the root zone, helping prevent wet leaves and water wasted by being blown away in a breeze. Finally, the thick mulch holds in moisture and protects the soil from extreme temperatures. As a result, Homeowner B enjoys a stronger, healthier landscape that is less prone to many pests and diseases—all while using less water than her neighbor.
Schedule a Free Irrigation Evaluation Today
The UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Water Resources Program offers FREE irrigation evaluations to help you get started. Our team will visit your property to thoroughly examine your sprinkler system. We will turn on each zone, walk your yard, and identify ways to improve your water efficiency. You can follow along with us outside, or you can relax comfortably inside your home while we work.
Afterward, we will give you a full report that highlights every area for improvement and provides clear recommendations on how to fix each issue. We use a state-of-the-art GIS mapping system to map out your irrigation zones so you know exactly where they are. Finally, your report will include custom run times for each zone based on its size and the number of sprinkler heads.
With this report in hand, you will have everything you need to hire a contractor or head straight to the hardware store!
Sign up for your evaluation today at https://tiny.cc/ufsaraext_irrigationcheck
Declaration of Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process
During the preparation of this work, the author used AI to edit this work to optimize accessibility and improve grammatical structure. After using this tool/service, the author reviewed and edited the content, and takes full responsibility for the content of the publication
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