Swiftmud can fine counties that don't reach the goals, but that is unlikely, said Swiftmud spokesman Michael Molligan. I don't think you can dial up a 5-percent reduction. I think that's unrealistic. Talley has done a five-year analysis on the county's water use and will present his findings today to the County Commission. The numbers swing and sway wildly from year to year and don't paint a clear picture of whether the county is conserving or wasting water.
Residents tend to water their lawns, trees and shrubs less after a downpour.
The more tourists the county attracts, the more water used. And both factors fluctuate from year to year. The emergency order comes as the Tampa Bay area deals with a record drought. Eleven wells in the Bay area are pumping more water than intended, placing lakes and wetlands in danger. Swiftmud administrators are aware water use fluctuates from month to month and drafted the proposal to look at two-month intervals to soften the blow, Molligan said.