40C-21.621. Phase I Moderate Water Shortage

A Phase I Moderate Water Shortage is a Water Shortage where at least two Drought Indicators have a moderate value. The following measures shall be in effect when the District declares a Phase I Water Shortage, unless otherwise provided in the implementing order.

(1) Essential Uses.

(a) The use of water for firefighting and health or medical purposes will not be restricted.

(b) Fire hydrant testing will not be restricted.

(c) The use of water for maintenance of fire fighting facilities and emergency equipment is allowed as needed. This maintenance specifically includes the washing of fire engines, law enforcement vehicles, and other emergency Mobile Equipment.

(d) The use of water for medical purposes and protection of public health, safety, and welfare will not be restricted.

(2) Indoor Uses.

(a) All Indoor Water Use should be voluntarily reduced.

(b) Indoor use in commercial, industrial, or institutional establishments should be voluntarily reduced.

(3) Public Supply Uses.

(a) All Public Supply water use should be voluntarily reduced and each Public Supply consumptive use permittee shall review its current water conservation plan to ensure that the plan elements have been fully implemented in accordance with the permit conditions and to determine what additional demand management measures could be reasonably employed, should resource conditions further deteriorate.

(b) Each Public Supply water utility should institute or accelerate other water conservation efforts which can help manage demand during the Water Shortage declaration. These efforts should include:

1. Customer messaging for all customers that informs customers about the current Water Shortage declaration, describes how the water utility’s primary and back-up water supplies are affected by the declaration and the resource or supply conditions that led to the declaration, and promotes any ongoing water conservation projects offered by the water utility that would assist customers in their efforts to immediately reduce water consumption.

2. Review and refinement, as necessary, of water utility operational practices regarding water pressure and line flushing to identify and implement any opportunities that would reduce water demand without causing adverse impacts to public health, welfare, and safety.

(4) Commercial/Industrial/Institutional Uses.

All Commercial/Industrial/Institutional water use should be voluntarily reduced and each Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional consumptive use permittee shall review its current water conservation plan to ensure that the plan elements have been fully implemented in accordance with the permit conditions and to determine what additional demand management measures could be reasonably employed, should resource conditions further deteriorate.

(5) Agriculture Uses. All Agricultural water use should be voluntarily reduced and each Consumptive Use Permittee shall review its current water conservation plan to ensure that the plan elements have been fully implemented in accordance with the permit conditions and to determine what additional demand management measures could be reasonably employed, should resource conditions further deteriorate.

(6) Landscape/Recreation/Aesthetic Uses.

(a) All Landscape/Recreation/Aesthetic water use should be voluntarily reduced and each consumptive use permittee shall review its current water conservation plan to ensure that the plan elements have been fully implemented in accordance with the permit conditions and to determine what additional demand management measures could be reasonably employed, should resource conditions further deteriorate.

(b) All Landscape Irrigation, should be voluntarily reduced and each property owner or manager should prepare for possible worsening conditions.

(c) All cemetery, golf course, athletic field, water-based recreational area, and aesthetic water use should be voluntarily reduced and each property owner or manager should prepare for possible worsening conditions.

Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113 FS. Law Implemented 373.175, 373.246 FS. History–New 1-1-84, Amended 8-23-18.