City and County officials need to do more to increase enforcement of water use restrictions…that’s the word from the South Florida Water Management District.

Water managers held a workshop with officials from Lee and Collier County to share some ideas on just how best to go about enforcing the rules. Officials say this years’ drought is becoming one of the worst in the states history. And catching those who are using too much water is one way to help alleviate the problem. Susan Sanders, spokeswoman for the water management district says enforcing these restrictions falls on the local governments.

“The water management district by statute does not have the authority to…enforce restrictions on the consumer level. We deal with the large permitted projects. So that basically falls upon the jurisdiction of the local governmental entities.”

Sanders does say many people are not purposely breaking the rules, they just may not know what they are. She says one challenge local governments are facing when it comes to better enforcement is manpower and money.