St. Johns County residents can water their lawns one day a week, and the water management district has set no date to change that.

The St. Johns River Water Management District's Phase 3 Extreme Water Shortage restrictions, first declared May 11, remain in full effect across the county. Clay Coarsey, the district's director of water supply planning and assessment, said the region would need roughly 30 additional inches of rain over the next three months, on top of normal seasonal totals, just to bring the Floridan Aquifer back to normal levels, according to a report by St. Johns Community Website published Wednesday.

Drought conditions reach historic severity

The current drought represents the most severe stretch of extreme drought conditions recorded in Florida since the U.S. Drought Monitor began tracking in 2000, according to that report. Federal data from Drought.gov backs the scope: as of April 16, the Southeast was experiencing its largest area of severe drought or worse since monitoring began.

St. Johns County had an 11.07-inch rainfall deficit over the previous 12 months as of the week of Sept. 8, according to district data reported by the Ponte Vedra Recorder. Neighboring Clay and Duval counties were worse off, at 15.46 and 15.45 inches, respectively.

"That one month hasn't made up for the 11 months prior deficit in rainfall," Coarsey said of September's rain.

Some springs west of Duval County in Alachua County have already started drying up because of the aquifer deficit, according to the St. Johns Community Website report. Coarsey noted that fall offers one small advantage: shorter days mean less evaporation and less plant demand, so rain that falls this time of year soaks deeper into the ground than it would in summer.

What the Phase 3 restrictions require

Under Phase 3 rules, landscape irrigation is limited to one day per week. No watering is allowed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. The schedule by address:

• Even-numbered addresses: Sunday only
• Odd-numbered or no-number addresses: Saturday only
• Non-residential properties: Tuesday only

The restrictions apply to all water sources, including private wells, ground and surface water, and public or private utility connections. New sod and landscape plantings face added limits. Pressure washing and decorative fountains are prohibited. Golf course fairway irrigation is limited to one day per week.

One exemption exists: irrigation systems running entirely on reclaimed water. Blending reclaimed water with any restricted source voids that exemption.

How residents can help conserve water

An average home uses almost 1,000 gallons of water per irrigation cycle, according to district data. Neal Shinkre, director of the St. Johns County Utilities Department, said fixing leaks and adjusting sprinkler timers are among the steps that add up to protect the aquifer and keep service reliable.

The district is monitoring rainfall, groundwater levels and river flows to determine whether additional restrictions will be needed if dry conditions persist. Residents can report overwatering or find details on the watering schedule at the district's water restrictions page.