Manatee County's treatment facility is only able to produce about 65% of the permitted capacity. As a result, utility officials have asked Sarasota County to reduce the amount of water it is taking, so Manatee County may continue to service internal customers.
The challenges in the potable water system have grown considerably in recent days, with several residents reporting little to no water.
In an email to Sarasota County Commissioners, public utilities director Mike Mylett said Tuesday saw huge demands on the system.
"Today has been a record day for the amount of water demand in our system, over 27 million gallons and rising," Mylett said. "Pressures in the northern portion of our service area (north of Bee Ridge Road) continue to trend below what our customers have become accustomed to receiving."