Mandarin homeowners remain limited to watering their lawns once a week as new figures from the St. Johns River Water Management District show groundwater levels across the region remain exceptionally low.

The district's September hydrologic report, released Oct. 14, found that groundwater levels in the Upper Floridan aquifer were at the eighth percentile, a reading classified as "very low."

The district received an average of 42.07 inches of rain during the 12 months ending in September, 8.94 inches below normal. All 18 counties in the district recorded rainfall deficits, including 10 with shortfalls exceeding 10 inches. Baker County's deficit surpassed 17 inches.

September rainfall averaged 5.30 inches districtwide, 1.44 inches below normal. Totals ranged from 7.82 inches in Okeechobee County to 3.19 inches in Bradford County.

Although most groundwater monitoring stations recorded slight improvements, the majority remained below normal levels at the end of September.

Mandarin limited to weekly watering

Duval County remains under the district's Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration, which restricts landscape irrigation to one day per week.

Under the district's watering rules, residents must follow this schedule:

  • Odd-numbered addresses and homes without addresses: Saturday
  • Even-numbered addresses: Sunday
  • Nonresidential properties: Tuesday

Watering is permitted only between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Irrigation is limited to three-quarters of an inch per zone and no more than one hour per zone on the assigned day.

The restrictions apply to water drawn from private wells, lakes, rivers and public or private utilities. Newly installed landscaping has separate watering allowances.

Decorative fountains and other aesthetic water uses are prohibited. Additional restrictions apply to pressure washing, street washing and certain commercial activities.

The district issued the temporary Phase III declaration in response to prolonged drought, declining groundwater levels and reduced river flows.

Full ponds can hide groundwater shortages

Clay Coarsey, the district's director of water supply planning and assessment, told First Coast News in August that residents may not realize how much water comes from underground.

"In Duval County, St. John's County, Nassau County, they can look and see the retention pond seems like it has plenty of water in it … 'What am I worried about these watering restrictions for?'" Coarsey said.

He explained that much of the water used in homes and irrigation systems comes from aquifers hundreds of feet below the surface.

Coarsey also told News4Jax in September that Northeast Florida had experienced below-average rainfall for more than a year.

Drought may tighten restrictions

The latest district report shows that scattered September storms were not enough to erase rainfall deficits, particularly in northern and western counties.

District officials continue to monitor rainfall, aquifer levels and river flows. Additional restrictions could follow if conditions deteriorate.

Residents can check watering schedules, review exemptions and find conservation guidance at sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.