Eglin tightens water consumption

  • Published
  • By Jerron Barnett
  • Eglin Environmental Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Effective immediately, Col. Dean Clemons, 96th Air Base Wing commander, has mandated that Eglin personnel living on base comply with the water conservation guidelines set forth by the Northwest Florida Water Management District.

In a press release distributed earlier this month, Water Management District officials issued a water shortage warning that stretches from Jefferson County west to Escambia County. This is the result of fifteen months of below normal rainfall and at or near record lows at monitored surface water sites. 

Ground water levels also continue to decline and moderate to extreme drought conditions continue across the northwest. According to the 46th Weather Squadron, Eglin has received only 13.1 inches of rain this year. Last year was the third driest year on record, with only a total of 40.23 inches of rain for the entire year.

"Due to continuing rainfall deficits, we are urging everyone to voluntarily reduce water use and maximize conservation," Douglas Barr, district executive director, said in the release. "Also, because meteorological forecasts predict below normal rainfall for the next several months, it is likely that localized upconing of salt water may occur in some wells. Sufficient water resources may not be available to meet all demands, especially at peak times."

The Water Management District urges residents and businesses to follow these guidelines:

-- Limit landscape irrigation to no more than two days per week; water only during the low evaporation hours of 4 p.m. to 10 a.m.
-- Golf courses are encouraged to limit hours of irrigation.
-- Water based recreation should be reduced if it requires pumping, diverting or otherwise using natural water supply for recreation--such as filling duck ponds.
-- Aesthetic uses of water that are primarily decorative (such as fountains), should be voluntarily discontinued.

In addition to these guidelines, Major Kyle Torster, 796th Civil Engineer Squadron's operations flight commander, said that members of the Eglin community should encourage their friends, neighbors and coworkers to be part of a water-conscious community and conserve water. Personnel should report significant water losses (broken pipes, leaking fire hydrants) to CE Customer Service at 882-3477 during normal duty hours or 882-3177 on evenings and weekends. 

The Okaloosa County Water and Sewer customer service office has many free brochures to help educate its 34,000 customers on water conservation. OWCS also gives out water conservation kits that contain devices you can install to help your home become more water efficient. Please call 651-7171 or visit the office on 1804 Lewis Turner Boulevard for information. 


Read the water shortage warning press release in its entirety at http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/shortage/water_shortage_warning.htm