Florida has a water problem

Newsweek -  Residents across the Tampa Bay region in Florida are being urged to immediately cut back on their water use, including shortening showers, after officials triggered a Stage 3 Extreme Regional Water Supply Shortage, one of the most severe shortages the area has faced in at least 50 years...

"We're heading into the driest months of the year when it will only get hotter and drier, so now is the time to save  and get to those Florida summer rains," Tampa Bay Water public communications manager Brandon Moore told Newsweek.

The shortage affects all 2.6 million people served by Tampa Bay Water across Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, as well as the cities of St. Petersburg, Tampa and New Port Richey. Residents are now urged to follow strict conservation guidelines, including:

Watering lawns no more than one day per week.

Fixing leaks in sprinklers, pipes, faucets and toilets.

Delaying new planting until summer rains arrive.

Turning off water while brushing teeth.

Keeping showers to five minutes or less.

The region is entering its driest season, which runs from March through May, when water use typically increases, compounding the crisis.