MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WWSB) – Manatee County residents are experiencing decreased water pressure as the ongoing drought strains utility systems.
Christian Collins, deputy director of Manatee County Utilities, said the issue affects residents in specific areas served by the reclaimed water system.
“It’s essentially a supply and demand issue,” Collins said. “Our reclaimed system doesn’t have the same quantity of water that our potable water system does.”
Watering your lawn on the wrong day could cost you
Collins said residents may notice significant changes in their irrigation systems.
“People are used to seeing their sprinkler heads shoot well across the yard,” Collins said. “You may come out there one morning and it’s a dribble coming out.”
Not all Manatee County residents are affected by the pressure decrease. The county’s main transmission line serves specific use areas for reclaimed water.
Collins said residents will continue to see the strain until rainfall returns to the area.
Copyright 2026 WWSB. All rights reserved.