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Alachua County official: St. Johns portion in Phase 3 water shortage; residents urged to limit irrigation
Summary
County environmental staff reported that the St. Johns River Water Management District portion of Alachua County remains in a Phase 3 extreme water shortage while the Suwannee River district portion is under a modified Phase 2; staff outlined specific restrictions, outreach efforts and a reporting phone number for water waste.
Adiana Barty, who identified herself as a water‑resources staffer with the county Environmental Protection Department, briefed the board on the county’s water‑shortage posture.
"We remain steady in a Phase 3 extreme water shortage for the St. Johns River Water Management District portion of the county and a modified Phase 2 for the Suwannee River Water Management District portion," Barty said, summarizing recent water‑management board actions. She explained that most restrictions are similar across districts: limits on irrigation (generally once per week), prohibitions on nonessential water uses (including aesthetic pressure‑washing and some fountain use), and limits on establishment schedules for new landscapes.
Barty said the county is using radio ads, press releases, social media and roadside message boards to reach residents and that staff are emphasizing education and voluntary compliance first. She provided the county reporting number for suspected water waste: (352) 264‑6800, and said an online reporting form is available via a QR code shared in outreach materials.
Board members queried whether recent rain and the lifting of some local burn bans made the drought designation inconsistent; staff noted that burn bans respond quickly to surface moisture while aquifer and river levels recover more slowly and that El Niño conditions may alter seasonal patterns but will not guarantee near‑term recovery.
Barty urged municipalities and homeowners associations not to require additional watering or pressure washing that would conflict with the water‑shortage orders and asked residents to report leaks or apparent waste so staff can follow up.
