DOVER, Fla. — Some residents in Dover have been without running water for days as falling groundwater levels have dried up private wells across the area.
Most of the affected homes rely on well systems, and officials say the water table dropped sharply following a recent cold snap combined with an unusually dry rainy season. Hillsborough County officials also point to increased water use by nearby farms during the freeze, as growers worked to protect crops from cold damage.
“Whenever there is a cold or a freeze event like this, a lot of times the agriculture industry needs to do bigger draws to preserve their crops,” said Anthony Halcyon, the Hillsborough County Senior Environmental Scientist. “Unfortunately, wells like this are the first to feel this kind of effect.”
For residents like Gerardo Silva, the impact has been immediate and frustrating. Silva has been without water since Sunday.
“Turn the faucet on — nothing. I mean nothing,” Silva said.
In times of need, neighbors are stepping in to help. Silva’s friend, Terry Wascaser, ran a hose from a nearby home in an effort to prime Silva’s water pump and restore pressure.
Wascaser says the problem is widespread throughout the Dover area.
“The worst affected area was this Dover area after the irrigation for the strawberries,” he said. “They suffered a lot more than other areas.”
Without running water, daily routines have become a challenge for many families.
“I had to go somewhere else to shower,” Silva said. “It’s like, how do we wash our hands after using the restroom? How do we flush our toilets? You have to figure out how to exist without running water — that’s hard.”
Hillsborough County has responded by setting up an emergency water station for residents without access to water.
“Our plan is to man the facility (Thursday) and (Friday). Then we’re going to do a touchpoint (Friday) afternoon to see if we need to continue it further,” Hillsborough County Division Director Plan Operations London Womack said.
After days of frustration, Silva finally received some encouraging news when water began flowing again.
“You got a little bit of water, bubba,” a friend said as the pressure in Silva’s pump increased.
While the immediate crisis has eased for some, many residents are still hoping for rain — and a longer-term recovery of the aquifer. According to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, aquifer levels rebounded 27 feet on Wednesday from Tuesday’s low.
The district is encouraging residents with dry wells to contact them and fill out a dry well complaint form. Officials say they will then work directly with homeowners to identify next steps and possible solutions.