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Utilities director reports lower water use, warns watering restrictions remain in effect
Summary
Utilities Director Tom Spencer told the Punta Gorda Utility Advisory Board that June water use fell to about 5.23 million gallons per day, reservoir levels are down, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District has extended a Phase 3 water-shortage order through Oct. 1, keeping enforcement and restrictions in place.
Tom Spencer, utilities director for the City of Punta Gorda, reported that June’s average “water to town” was 5,230,000 gallons per day—down roughly 590,000 gallons from May—and the peak day use was 7,190,000 gallons.
Spencer said the reservoir level was recorded at 5.47 feet on July 1 and was 5.13 feet at the time of the meeting. He also reported wastewater daily average flows of about 2,300,000 gallons and a three-month rolling average of 2,590,000 gallons.
The utilities director placed those local figures in the broader context of state and regional dryness. Citing the U.S. Drought Monitor as of July 7, Spencer said roughly 75.7% of Florida remained in drought conditions (from moderate through exceptional) and that Charlotte County was about 91.8% in drought-designated areas. He added that statewide rainfall through the January–May period remained below normal.
“Southwest Florida Water Management District did vote to extend the modified Phase 3 extreme water shortage order until October 1,” Spencer said, and noted the city continues to enforce watering restrictions, with code enforcement issuing tickets for violations.
Spencer also briefed the board on water quality indicators: surface-water total dissolved solids (TDS) readings ranged from about 595 parts per million to about 703 ppm with an average near 663 ppm, and blended-water TDS averages were in the mid-300s parts per million. He said the TDS numbers are typical for the dry conditions and should decline as rainfall returns.
Why it matters: the extended regional shortage order and lower reservoir levels mean watering restrictions and enforcement will remain in place into the fall. The board heard that compliance and enforcement actions are ongoing and that the utilities department is tracking both supply (reservoir levels) and demand (daily water use) closely.
The board did not take formal action on drought policy at the meeting. The next listed Utility Advisory Board meeting is Aug. 18, 2026, where staff updates and related agenda items may return for further review.
