(1) This Water Shortage Plan establishes four phases of Water Shortage severity with associated water use restrictions and other required actions.

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    (2) The following Water Shortage phases are established in accordance with Fl. Admin. Code Chapter 62-40:
    (a) Moderate,
    (b) Severe,
    (c) Extreme,
    (d) Critical.
    (3) The District shall assign a specific Water Shortage phase to each Source Class for which a Water Shortage has been declared. A Water Shortage declaration may or may not assign the same phase to all affected Source Classes.
    (4) The District shall consider the following when assigning a specific Water Shortage phase to each Source Class or combination of Source Classes:
    (a) Information generated as a result of the evaluation process described in Rules 40D-21.221 and 40D-21.231, F.A.C., and the corresponding Drought Condition Level shall serve as the basis for selecting the preliminary Water Shortage phase declaration to be considered.
    (b) Information collected relating to the factors described in Fl. Admin. Code R. 40D-21.211
    (c) Seasonal characterizations of the information generated or collected, such as whether a value is being seen at the beginning of the annual dry season that is normally not expected until the end of the annual dry season.
    (d) The relative impact of withdrawals used to supply various categories of water users on the affected Source Class(es) and any specific water body for which the shortage is declared.
    (e) The availability and practicality of alternative sources for each category of water user.
    (f) To the degree practical, how the District can implement phased restrictions and other required actions in a manner that distributes the burden of the required actions equitably among water users, relative to their impact on the affected Source Class(es) and specific water bodies experiencing the Water Shortage.
    (g) The potential for serious harm to natural systems as a result of the drought or other Water Shortage.
    (h) The appropriate geographic scope of potential water use restrictions and other required actions, relative to the affected source.
    (i) The effectiveness of current and potential water use restrictions and other required actions in containing or reducing water use to protect the affected source.
    (j) Any adverse impact of current and potential water use restrictions and other required actions on public health, safety and welfare.
Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113 FS. Law Implemented 373.175, 373.246 FS. History-New 11-19-84, Amended 7-2-86, 4-9-06, 7-5-12.