ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orlando Utilities Commission says this is not the time for customers to stop conserving water.
Last month, OUC said it is facing a liquid oxygen shortage because, while the company uses it to purify water, hospitals are seeing an increased demand to use it to treat COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
But OUC said water customers only really listened the first week the request was put out, and liquid oxygen levels are trending in the wrong direction again.
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The company said one week after asking homeowners to conserve water, customers used 79 million gallons per day.
Five days later, it was up to 85 million gallons per day.
A steadily high number of COVID-19 hospitalization rates means OUC is getting about half the amount of liquid oxygen it needs to purify its drinking water.
READ: OUC asking water customers to start conserving water immediately: Here’s why
The hope is by asking all 140,000 water customers to cut down on irrigation water for water lawns, pressure washing and car washes, the the supply would even out.
If not, water customers could see a boil order in the future.
Sandra Harrison said she wasn’t aware she was supposed to be conserving water, but she finds it shocking those who did know aren’t listening.
READ: OUC sending robocalls to customers urging them to conserve water
“Everyone does need to be doing their part,” she said. “Just like getting vaccinated is a part, especially since we have so many children under 14 who can’t even be vaccinated.”
Luke Schafer said that while “it’s pretty crazy we’ve gotten to this point,” he doesn’t believe it’s up to customers to cut down on water usage.
“It’s crazy that we need to conserve our water supply, but as a paying customer I want to be able to use as much water as I want to use,” he said.
READ” Couple weeks’ supply of liquid oxygen to treat your home’s water left
Multiple fountains across the city of Orlando have been turned off. Leaders said this could last several more weeks.
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