In a recent government meeting, officials provided an update on regional water supply and storage, revealing significant improvements in surface water storage and aquifer recovery systems. As of the end of August, surface water storage reached approximately 6.5 billion gallons, consistent with levels from the previous year, while reservoirs were reported to be completely full by early September.

The Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system also showed promising figures, with total storage at about 8.4 billion gallons and usable storage at 5 billion gallons. Officials noted that surface water supplies were sufficient to meet all demands through September, allowing minimal use of the ASR system over the past year.

The meeting highlighted the region's combined water supply capacity, which stands at 105 million gallons per day. In August, the authority delivered nearly 26 million gallons daily, with total regional production reaching 82 million gallons per day. Notably, demand from authority members and customers was about 78.7 million gallons per day, utilizing approximately 75% of the total capacity.

Charlotte County purchased 11.77 million gallons per day from the authority, while DeSoto County's total use was about 1.02 million gallons per day. Manatee County produced 40.58 million gallons, serving both retail and wholesale customers, including Longboat Key and the cities of Palmetto and Bradenton. Sarasota County's total use was reported at 22.1 million gallons per day, reflecting 66% of its total capacity.

Overall, the region's water usage has increased by 2% compared to the previous year, with a running 12-month average of nearly 87 million gallons per day. The meeting concluded with a report indicating that 22% of the regional capacity remains unused, emphasizing the importance of ongoing water management and conservation efforts.