Villagers are bombarding the Southwest Florida Water Management District with calls over a water surcharge coming June 5 as a result of the Phase III Water Shortage.
The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office also reported receiving calls from Villagers angry about the surcharge.
But neither SWFWMD nor the sheriff’s office will be imposing the surcharge.
The Phase III Water Shortage impacts all of The Villages in Marion County, Sumter County, and District 11 (Villages of Fruitland Park) in Lake County along with numerous other counties in SWFWMD.
Under the new water shortage order, lawn watering is reduced to once-per-week and allowable watering hours are reduced to before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. A 10 percent surcharge will be added to water usage beginning June 5 as a result of SWFWMD’s declaration of a Phase III Water Shortage.
SWFWMD Public Information Officer Susanna Martinez Tarokh said SWFWMD is not imposing the surcharge.The surcharge is coming from the local utilities, she said.
In The Villages, that would be Village Center Service Area, Little Sumter Service Area, the North Sumter County Utility Dependent District, Sumter Water Conservation Authority, and Fenney Water Conservation Authority.
The surcharge is aimed at providing an incentive to conserve water.
Earlier in May, Sam Wartinbee of District Property Management said The Villages has trimmed back its water usage, trying to set an example.
