Forecaster Predict Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season

Tuesday April 3, 2007 9:48 AM ET
Reuters

MIAMI (Reuters) - The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season will be far more active than usual with nine hurricanes, and the United States has an above-average chance of being hit by a major storm, a closely watched forecasting team said on Tuesday.

In an updated outlook, the Colorado State University forecasters led by pioneer researcher William Gray said the June. 1-November 30 season will produce 17 tropical storms. Of the nine hurricanes forecast, five will be major ones of Category 3 or higher with winds over 110.

The forecasters said the disappearance of the El Nino phenomenon, which tends to dampen Atlantic hurricane activity, and warm Atlantic sea surface temperatures lay behind their upgraded forecast.

Mandatory Water Use Restrictions Go Into Effect Today Throughout South Florida

March 22, 2007
South Florida Water Management District

West Palm Beach, FL – March 22, 2007 – With below-average rainfall and drought conditions continuing throughout the region, mandatory water use restrictions go into effect throughout South Florida starting today. The restrictions are the result of three water shortage orders passed last week by the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board and signed by Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle.

"Because rainfall is the region's primary source for freshwater supply, substantial cutbacks in water use through the water restrictions and voluntary conservation practices will help stretch dwindling water supplies," Wehle said.

"We've asked the media to help communicate this important message to our residents so we can all weather the water shortage with as little impact as possible."

Eastern Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties - Phase I Restrictions
Phase I mandatory water use restrictions in eastern Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties limit outdoor lawn watering and car washing to three days a week: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. for addresses that end in an odd number; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. for even-number addresses.

These limitations and other actions and are intended to produce a 15 percent reduction in overall demand on our water resources by all uses, including agricultural, industrial, commercial, golf course, landscaping and residential water users. The Phase I restrictions in eastern Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties apply to users who get their water from public utilities, private wells, canals, ponds and lakes.

The use of water for firefighting, safety, sanitation, health, medical and other essential purposes is not restricted. The use of 100 percent reclaimed water, an alternative water source, is also exempt from the restrictions.

"Water restrictions do not mean that public utilities must reduce the amount of water they supply to their customers by 15 percent," Wehle said. "It is up to all water users from all sources to cut back on water use to get us to the overall 15 percent reduction."

Cleaning Your Roof During Water Restrictions

April 2007
Revive-A-Roof Cleaning Systems, Inc.

The three elements that make a roof look dirty are algae, mold, and mildew. The conventional method of cleaning a roof in South

Florida has been to use a pressure cleaner. The characteristics of this methods are:

1. Use pressure, typically 3,000 psi at 5-7 gallons of water per minute, to dislodge the algae, mold, and mildew.
2. Go over each tile of the roof.
3. Use the customers water

This process can take up to 4 hours to clean a roof. During these 4 hours:

• Your roof tiles have been exposed to the 3,000 PSI of the washer and the weight of person cleaning.
• 1,200 – 2,000 gallons of water has consumed at the customers expense.
• The algae and dirt has been displaced but no killed.
• The algae, mold, and mildew will immediately begin to grow.

Revive-A-Roof has been cleaning roofs with there time tested process:

• Cover your plants with painters plastic
• A full time plant smith working on the ground during application.
• The applicator washes your roof with their solution at 45 psi.
• The applicator is on the roof for 1/3 of the time of a pressure cleaner and stand in a few reinforced places of your roof.
• Gutter-less homes will have a light washing to remove any residual solution using approximately 100 gallons of water. The solution will be permitted to dry and active on guttered homes.

The benefit of this process over pressure cleaning include:

• Use 0 – 100 gallons of water.
• The algae, mold, and mildew will all be killed making your roof look new again.
• The solution will act as a spore block for up to 30 months – keeping your roof looking better longer.
• Less wear and tear on you roof tiles.

South Florida Water Management District to Recommend Expanded Water Restrictions

April 2, 2007
Jesus Rodriguez
South Florida Water Management District

West Palm Beach, FL – Water managers at the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today announced that its Governing Board will consider expanding the current water use restrictions at its April 12 meeting.

Upon the anticipated favorable vote of the Governing Board, the proposed orders will be formally adopted, and the new restrictions will become effective April 13 for all areas.

Residents in the Lower East Coast will be limited to a two-day-per-week irrigation schedule, and permitted water users here will be required to achieve a 30 percent reduction in their overall water consumption.

"The new cutbacks will be more restrictive than anything our agency has ever proposed, but our water resources are at risk," said Carol Ann Wehle, executive director of the SFWMD.

A press conference has been scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST at SFWMD headquarters to discuss current water conditions in the Lower East Coast, emergency action pertaining to water conservation areas that supply the East Coast residential areas, and potential impacts to various user groups.