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The following is a column that appeared in The Villages Daily Sun on June 15, 2017, section C, page 6:

by Trey Arnett
Guest Columnist

"A nice rain is a wonderful thing, especially when we're coming out of a severe dry season. Driven by the unusually dry conditions that have been experienced throughout this part of the state over more that the past year, the Southwest Florida Water Management District implemented a Phase 1 Water Shortage Order because of declining environmental indicators such as rainfall, river flows, and groundwater levels.

A water shortage order is not tied to withdrawals, and the order is designed to be temporary and to be removed as soon as environmental indicators improve. In late May, SWFWMD raised the level of the order to a Phase 3, effective June 5, because conditions were more severe. Rainfall up to that point in the Florida dry season was the lowest in more than 100 years, and the rainfall projections were not favorable.

So why does the SWFWMD water shortage order impact Villages residents? When the water use permits were acquired in 2007 to supply the water needs for our community down to State Road 44, two of the permit requirements involved development of a water conserving rate structure and a plan to help endure that the environment was protected. Through a cooperative process with SWFWMD, the water rates, including an environmental protection surcharge were developed and approved.

The primary purpose of the requirements from SWFWMD was to encourage water conservation. The Villages has developed one of the most innovative water supply systems in the state, with major infrastructure investment in alternative water supply, but it was recognized that a significant component that couldn't be directly controlled was customers' water use. SWFWMD felt it was critical to have significant conservation encouragements build into the water use rates. Where the surcharge has been implemented, it only impacts water use rates, and applies to all customers--residential, commercial and golf.

The additional revenues collected during the temporary period that the environmental protection surcharge is in effect are collected by the utility company and are part of the general revenues of the utility. While a water shortage order is in effect, there are additional requirements on the utility for reporting, record keeping, conservation, etc. The funds collected help address those additional operating costs.

If we all keep our rain dances going, perhaps the rainy season will be better that predicted and the temporary order will be able to be rescinded and the surcharges removed before the currently scheduled ending on Aug. 1. SWFWMD and our utility companies would like to see the order rescinded as soon as possible, because it means environmental conditions have improved. With the recent rainfall, we're off to a good start.

For more information about water conservation, the SWFWMD order and other water-related questions, refer to the district website at districtgov.org or thevillageswaterwisdom.com."