LAKE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 Central Florida\u2019s drought is deepening, and the St. Johns River Water Management District says its work is being stretched across all of its main responsibilities.<\/p>\n
District spokesperson Clay Coarsey says the agency\u2019s four core missions are: water supply, flood protection, water quality, and natural systems.<\/p>\n
Those priorities are now under more pressure as dry conditions worsen.<\/p>\n
Lake County is the latest area declared in extreme drought.<\/p>\n
Coarsey says the shortage isn\u2019t limited to one place.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a water shortage not just in Lake County but extending up to where the district ends, bordered with Georgia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The district says low rainfall is the biggest factor behind the shortage.<\/p>\n
Flagler and Marion Counties are also under Phase Three water restrictions, which is why residents are seeing tighter rules.<\/p>\n
Coarsey says the district also wants the messaging to be consistent from county to county.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to make it very clear so if you went from one county to another you wouldn\u2019t hear different things.\u201d<\/p>\n
For many people, the most noticeable change is landscape irrigation.<\/p>\n
Instead of watering twice a week, the district is limiting lawn watering to one day a week in Phase Three areas.<\/p>\n
The goal is to reduce stress on the aquifer, which supplies drinking water.<\/p>\n
Some residents point to development and growth, but Coarsey says the district\u2019s data shows that\u2019s not the main driver.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe development is not the driver. The driver behind this is those deficit rainfall conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n
The district says restrictions could be eased later this summer \u2014 but only if conservation improves and rainfall increases enough to make a significant difference.<\/p>\n
After hearing talk of a possibility, we also asked about whether restaurants in Phase Three zones might stop automatically serving water at restaurants unless customers ask. <\/p>\n
The district says that is not part of its rules \u2014 but if restaurants choose to do that anyway, the district says they would have its full support.<\/p>\n
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