Did you know conserving water helps reduce stress on our water supplies during the dry season when rainfall is limited? In South Florida, water is a precious resource that must be managed and conserved year-round to protect our communities and natural systems.
More than 50 percent of the water used by South Florida residents is for landscape irrigation. With billions of gallons of water used every day and projections for continued population growth, we all need to do our part to conserve water and ensure there is enough for people and the environment.
During the cooler winter months, lawns do not need to be irrigated as frequently. Most of the time, one day of irrigation per week is sufficient to maintain a healthy landscape.
Residents and businesses District-wide can do their part to help conserve water by following these simple water-saving tips:
- All landscape irrigation should comply with the allowed days and times as established in your local government’s year-round landscape irrigation ordinance. Visit the SFWMD's Lawn Watering Restrictions webpage to learn more.
- Check irrigation timers to ensure settings are correct and rain sensors are working properly.
- Check irrigation systems to ensure they are working properly. Test and repair broken pipes and damaged sprinkler heads if necessary.
- Fix leaks. Finding and fixing water leaks conserves water, saves money and protects your home from damage.
- When utilizing water indoors, reduce shower durations, minimize loads of laundry, and only run dishwashers when full.
- Landscape the Florida-Friendly Way by planting low maintenance plants using environmentally sustainable practices.
To protect groundwater in the Mid-Hawthorn Aquifer in northeastern Cape Coral, the South Florida Water Management District declared a water shortage and issued mandatory irrigation restrictions for portions of Cape Coral and unincorporated Lee County on November 28, 2023. Landscape irrigation is limited to one day a week in the designated area for irrigation water supplied by private wells.
A water shortage warning issued on November 21, 2023, is in effect for all of Collier and Lee Counties amid continuing dry conditions and increasing water supply concerns on the Southwest Coast.
Conserving water during the dry season – and all year long – is an integral part of managing and protecting our water supplies today and for future generations. Learn more about the importance of water conservation and the ways you can reduce your water use.