Bloomingdale Escapes Tighter Water Restrictions

When it comes to water conservation, Hillsborough County residents are being asked to keep on doing what they’re doing.

Residents of nearby counties, such as Hernando, aren’t quite as lucky. They are being asked to strictly limit their water use.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board voted Tuesday, Feb. 28, to enact Modified Phase III restrictions in areas such as Hernando, Citrus and Levy counties where rainfall has been scarce. Residents will have to follow tight once-a-week lawn watering restrictions and other guidelines when it comes to water use, according to a district media release.

The board also voted to continue Phase I water restrictions in the Tampa Bay area. Under Phase I restrictions, residents can water on a two-day-a-week schedule, typically before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. on their designated days.

According to the water management district’s Aquifer Resource Weekly Update, the central region, which includes Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, had aquifer levels at 0.26 feet as of Feb. 22. On the same date last year, the measurement was 1.80 feet. Even so, the Feb. 22 measurement falls within the normal range for the central area, which is between 0 and 5.5 feet.

For more information about water restrictions in Hillsborough County, visit the county’s website. Tampa Water Department customers should refer to this website for information about restrictions.