Ouch!

We were on watering restrictions the past two summers. It was no fun. I still need to replace some of my landscaping I lost.

I work in AG in FL, the second largest AG state after CA, and for the last 15 yrs there have been water restrictions in this state from one degree to another. Some counties are far stricter year round, others's are mild thru summer, more strict in winter but all are under restrictions. In this state we have said for years that water is going to become more precious than oil, we have desalination plants already running and a few more under construction ($2 Billion ea). If you don't believe water is more important than oil, just ask ALL the farmers in the Midwest, they have run wells dry for 2 years straight already and are quickly running out of options. I was shocked to see some states giving waivers to homeowners/small farms wanting to drill deep wells to get to water last summer. That just lessens the general water pool for everyone in the midwest. I am willing to bet some towns completely run out next summer, even if there are decent snows and rains for the rest of the year.

Until I lived here I didn't realize how much water we waste and now we can not afford too. Alot of people are not used to being told they have rules about water use especially wells but it is coming to everyone in this country. Here, Seminole Co, northern burbs of Orlando even if you are on a well you must follow the law and there are fines for breaking it. You can not drill for wells for several counties around Orlando and no matter how much $$ you have to blow on trying there are no well drillers willing to risk it. The most powerful people in this state are on the Water Management Districts, they alone make the laws for water use by every single person and business in this state. Every couple of years the water/sewage treatment rates double, that combined with no wells allowed to be drilled, drives people on to "reclaimed" water for irrigation or you go w out. I work for a landscape plant grower (2nd largest in FL) and we are told how much water we may use, years ago we had to convert to "reclaimed" water (and pay for it now) even thou we border a major lake and used to draw from it. You break the law as a business and the fines are meant to put you out of business permanently. The worst restrictions I can ever remember were in Broward/Dade Co - Miami area in 2006-07 springs. Lake Okachoobee was at historic lows for months and after months of severe water restrictions like no irrigation at all, no sod or plant installations at all, no car washing, etc...they were 2 weeks away from cutting off ALL water to residences & businesses (emergency & hospital allowed) between 9am-5pm, no exceptions, not like some could have anyway they were shutting valves OFF. 1 week later they got some rain, then after several months they lifted the most severe restrictions. When there is no water there is none...we can not make more. But I sure hope FL pipes it out to all the other states LOL for a price! ~ liz

Not sure about the water restrictions in OKC where Moni lives. Here in the Tulsa area, we physically have enough water. We don't have enough equipment to process it. If a line breaks or something, then it gets really bad.

Moni....that's awful! Never heard of rationing in the winter!!! Ouch!!!!!

The lakes we get water from a VERY low too. No telling, how long it is till we have rationing too.

I pretty well do my part. My water from hand washables is used to either water trees and bushes, or to flush. I keep a bucket in the bathtub, and catch the water till it flows warm. I have a bottle at the kitchen sink, to catch the water till it is warm/hot, and then dump it in the bucket in the bathroom, and use that to flush, when it is full.

Personally, I know how to conserve... I am just worried about the summer heat, if our lakes don't fill up before long.

Moni

Moni:

Your concerns are very real! The entire mid-section of our nation is water short. The mighty Mississippi is running low between St. Loius and the confluence with the Ohio river. River Barge traffic has been curtailed.

I have ancestors who migrated to Oklahoma in 1909 eventuslly settling on a farm near Shawnee, Okla. Many of them left in the 1920s and 1930s, the dust bowl days. We are nearing the same conditions to date.

I have an Uncle (deceased) who participated in Oklahoma's Water Project. This was a program of building large farm ponds and catchments to aid the water table and fight drought. It wasn't enough last year.

In Wisconsin, we are just now gettng back our topsoil moisture. The southwestern part of the state is yet considered abnormally dry.

Lake Michigan finally stopped dropping and it at its lowest level in many years. However, much of that drop has been blamed on channel dredging in a shipping lane. Reduction of rain and snow melt was another factor.

This comming summer could be the telling one. Will the water come back or will it get worse.

When it will be really bad is in the fire seasons in the heat of summer. We lived in Norman for about 13 years out by Lake Thunderbird, we had some real scares with fire. Luckily our house has it's own deep well so the current owners at least have water.
Here in the Houston area we are also still in pretty serious drought conditions in the lakes. We have been getting a lot of rain right now but not enough to make up for the summers.

Adella... I was born and raised in Tulsa, we lived in Florence Park, in Mid-Town. I live in Owasso now. My dad worked and retired From the Tulsa Fire Dept, so did my husband. My son in law works on the Fire Dept. now. He made that terrible fatality fire last night.

As a young bride on property we were building our new home on with a well,an elderly lady told me just to watch the water consumption in January around the 8th,that if a well was going to go dry,it would when we have the winter thaw.

Moni, I wish I could send you some water....it has rained continually for days. We've had this place for 15 years and never had so much mud. The only good thing....hay is cheap this year. Summer before last was a drought and we paid $120 for a so-so round bale. Feeding premium hay this year for $40 a bale.

I don't know how it is for the lakes around here...I live on bayou, and it rises and falls with the tides.

Here in TX it's awful too. We've had a drought for more than 3 years now. Last week, we got 3 inches of rain because it rained for 2 days. First time in a long while.

One of the largest lakes in the area is at 9% capacity, it will be completely dry before long. The farmers in the surrounding area depend on lake water for irrigation, so the spring crops will not be planted. Quite a few people have had to abandon their homes because their wells have run dry. Several communities have run out of water and water is currently being trucked in.

They had a big article in the San Antonio newspaper a few weeks ago, about the biggest water wasters in the area. One guy who was cited tried to bribe the reporter to leave his name out, and then defended himself by saying he has 4 large water features on his property and how is he supposed to run them if he can't use lots of water. Many people are still siphoning water from lakes and rivers to keep their grass green "because I want my grass to look good". People don't seem to understand how serious this drought is.