After the driest back-to-back years on record, South Florida water managers are imposing their most far-reaching restrictions ever, covering most homes and businesses from Orlando to the Keys.

As for whether sprinklers across South Florida will shut down when they’re supposed to, Dorothea Madrigrano, of Boca Raton, said she will believe it when she sees it. Madrigrano said she saw too many neighbors watering at will last year and had too many calls to report violations go unanswered.

“A lot of people just couldn’t care less,” Madrigrano said. “These people are watering their heads off and here we are following the rules.”

The South Florida Water Management District contends habits have to change this year because the strain on water supplies continues to worsen.

Half of South Florida’s public water supply is used for landscape irrigation, according to the district, and the tougher restrictions are intended to conserve for what is forecast to be a drier than normal winter and spring.

While landscape watering gets cut to once a week, large water users, such as golf courses and farms, are required to reduce water use by 45 percent.

“We have never seen water levels this low, this early in the dry season,” said water district spokesman Jesus Rodriguez. “These (restrictions) are about the immediate water supply concerns.”

Cities and counties are gearing up for code enforcement patrols, with many planning to forgo warnings and start with citations.

“There are no more warnings,” said Linda Walker, code enforcement supervisor for Royal Palm Beach, where fines start at $30 and climb to $500 per day.

Rainfall from Orlando to the Keys totaled 83.63 inches for 2006 and 2007, the lowest since record keeping began in 1932 and almost 2 feet below the usual two-year average of 104.5 inches.

That dropped Lake Okeechobee, South Florida’s primary backup water supply, to an all-time recorded low in July. It remains at a record low for this time of year. The situation was worsened by decisions in 2006 to lower the lake in anticipation of hurricanes that never came.

At just over 10 feet above sea level, the lake remains 4 feet below normal. That leaves less water than last year to refill irrigation canals, restock drinking water well fields and replenish the Everglades. Long-term forecasts suggest little relief until the start of the summer rainy season.

“We are entering uncharted territory with the lake being at 10 feet this time of year,” said Judy Sanchez, spokeswoman for U.S. Sugar Corp. “Nobody is certain how [the district] will be able to move water.”

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel