Lee County Residents to Continue Water Conservation and Restrictions

June 1, 2020

Recent rainfall had minimal impact on aquifers and residents still encouraged to do their part every day to conserve water as District monitors conditions

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is reminding all Lee County residents to continue to practice water conservation and follow the landscape irrigation restriction enacted in April.

Irrigation restrictions are in place to protect the region’s groundwater resources, and Lee County residents who depend on water from private wells. Limited rainfall throughout the dry season has led to decreased groundwater levels in regional aquifers.

March was the driest March on record with only about 0.1 inches of rain falling Districtwide and rainfall for the entire dry season from November through May was several inches below average.

While some rain has fallen in Southwest Florida in recent days, there has been minimal impact on underground aquifers in Lee County and the irrigation restrictions are still in effect.

"It will take time for groundwater levels and the wells that supply drinking water to be replenished to normal levels," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss. "All of us need to be doing our part to conserve water every day throughout the year and all of us in Lee County need to continue following the irrigation restrictions."

The irrigation restrictions, applying to all areas of Lee County, include:

Landscape irrigation is restricted to one day per week for all parts of Lee County.
The following landscape irrigation restrictions are in place for all of Lee County except the City of Cape Coral:
All landscape irrigation is prohibited between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to reduce evaporation.
- Irrigation is only allowed on Sunday for even-numbered addresses and Wednesday for odd-numbered addresses based on the last number of the address.
The following landscape irrigation restrictions are in place for the City of Cape Coral:
- Irrigation is only allowed on a specific day of the week based on the last number of the address.
- Irrigation is only allowed during one of two 4-hour slots, 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. also based on the address.
Irrigation is also restricted for recreational, golf courses, agriculture and nursery uses.
Additional details are online at SFWMD.gov/Conserve.

SFWMD will continue to monitor conditions and will lift the watering restrictions when aquifers have been recharged to levels able to ensure adequate water supply for residents and the environment.

Residents can visit the District’s website at SFWMD.gov/Conserve to learn about irrigation restrictions and simple tips any resident can use to conserve water at home.