Polk County officials: Drought may lead to water restrictions

BARTOW — Polk County officials on Monday urged residents in Southwest Polk County to stick to watering their lawns no more than twice a week after its 3,400 customers used twice as much reclaimed water last week in the drought-stricken area as the previous one.

“If we don’t get rain and don’t get compliance voluntarily, we may have to go to mandatory one-day-per-week watering,” County Manager Jim Freeman said during an agenda study.

Marjorie Craig, director of Polk County Utilities, said she and others can’t remember a time in the Southwest area where the county has been required to issue a warning.

“We’re trying to get rid of this water normally,” Craig said. “But we’re asking customers to please stick to their days so we can catch up on our shortage.”

The reclaimed water area is west of U.S. 98 to County Line Road, and south of County Road 540A. Subdivisions affected include Christina, Hallam Preserve and ImperiaLakes.