Water Shortage
SFWMD Issues Water Shortage Order for Northeastern Portion of Cape Coral
November 28, 2023 - In order to protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) declared a water shortage and issued mandatory irrigation restrictions for a portion of Cape Coral and unincorporated Lee County. Landscape irrigation is limited to one day a week in the designated area for irrigation water supplied by private wells.
Water Shortage Order SFWMD 2023-063
News Release
A water shortage warning issued on November 21, 2023 is still in effect for all of Collier and Lee Counties amid continuing dry conditions and increasing water supply concerns on the Southwest Coast.
Declaration of Water Shortage Warning SFWMD 2023-062
News Release
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A Water shortage is a temporary declaration made by the Governing Board or the Executive Director of the Water Management District when water conditions in parts or all of the District are deemed insufficient to meet the present and anticipated needs of residents and other water users. Such a declaration is made to help reduce impacts to our water resources. A water shortage usually occurs due to drought and is rescinded once wetter conditions return to the affected areas.
A Water Shortage Emergency is a second type of temporary declaration made by the Governing Board or the Executive Director of the Water Management District. This declaration is made when the District determines water shortage provisions are not sufficient to protect the welfare of the general public, permitted water users or the environment. Typically, the restrictions on water use are more limiting than under a water shortage declaration.
Declaration of a water shortage condition and/or water shortage emergency within any specific area by the Governing Board or Executive Director of the District supersedes the District's Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule and any local landscape watering ordinance for the duration of the declaration. For more information on the District's Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule, click HERE.