WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board issued a water shortage warning Thursday to the 8.1 million residents living within its boundaries.
“The purpose of this warning is to urge South Florida families to voluntarily conserve more water,” Governing Board Chairman Dan O’Keefe said. “This effort will help your water supply last through the remainder of the dry season.”
The water source for Lehigh Acres is at its lowest level in 40 years, the district said. Much of Southwest Florida is under a severe drought.
Mandatory restrictions may be imposed if residents don’t cut back on water use, according to the district. Similar warnings have come from the city of Cape Coral, which last week approved a nearly $200,000 purchase order for a study on a potential alternative water source.
Only isolated rain is in the forecast for the next seven days.
The district covers 16 counties, including Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades and western Charlotte.
