?EUR??,,????'?????< South Florida has never seen such a widespread drought, she said.

The new restrictions will be permanent until the board rescinds them when rains return to the region. The rules mean residents will have to cut back lawn and garden watering to two days a week between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. for the lower east and west coast regions and three days a week in Martin and St. Lucie counties.

Residents around Lake Okeechobee, which is at a record low for the month, can only water twice a week.

State officials estimate that 50 percent of drinking water produced daily in South Florida is used outside for watering lawns and gardens.