Florida Administrative Code › 40 - WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS › 40A - Northwest Florida Water Management District › Chapter 40A-21 - WATER SHORTAGE PLAN › Part II - DECLARING AND IMPLEMENTING A WATER SHORTAGE › Section 40A-21.231 - Declaring a Water Shortage

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) The
				  District shall evaluate the condition of the water resources in the District as
				  specified in Rule  40A-21.221, F.A.C.
(2) Prior to declaring a water shortage for a
				  source class, the Board may issue a water shortage warning calling for
				  voluntary reductions in use within that source class. The Board may elect to
				  have the District staff coordinate the water shortage warning with local
				  interest groups and other representatives of the various affected user classes
				  as well as emergency preparedness and other related agencies and includes
				  increased data monitoring and analysis. Delineation of the source class
				  boundaries will be made by the best geographic means available.
(3) If the District determines that water
				  levels have fallen below established management levels, if any, or that there
				  is a possibility that insufficient water will be available within a source
				  class to meet the user demands from that source, to meet the requirements of
				  the permit system, or to protect the water resource from serious harm, the
				  Board shall issue an order declaring a water shortage for the affected source
				  class or classes. When the affected source extends beyond the District's
				  boundaries, the District will coordinate water shortage declarations with other
				  appropriate agencies to the extent practicable.
(4) A water shortage shall also be declared
				  for those source classes not presently experiencing a water shortage if usage
				  from such sources can be reasonably expected to impact the present and
				  anticipated available water supply in the source classes identified in
				  subsection (3).
(5) If a water
				  shortage is declared for a source class, the District shall estimate the
				  percent reduction in overall water use required to protect the water resources
				  from serious harm or to reduce usage such that established management levels,
				  if any, are maintained to the greatest extent possible.
(6) When appropriate, the District shall
				  designate source-specific Water Use Caution Areas in which more stringent
				  monitoring or control of the resource is determined necessary. Within these
				  areas, appropriate water users will be required to utilize reclaimed water
				  unless it is demonstrated to the District's satisfaction that reuse is not
				  economically, environmentally or technically feasible.
(7) Upon the designation of a Water Use
				  Caution Area the District may set management levels, if not already established
				  for each affected source class in that area. If deemed necessary, the
				  establishment of the management levels and the increased monitoring efforts
				  will help to provide the District with a management framework which can be used
				  to evaluate the impacts on the water resources by present and projected future
				  users.
(8) Management levels may
				  also be established by the District for source classes which are not in a Water
				  Use Caution Area.
Rulemaking Authority
						373.044,
						373.113 FS. Law Implemented
						373.175,
						373.246
						FS.
New 3-29-92.