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A prolonged and widespread water shortage can hardly be described as a lucky break. The impacts of below-average rainfall that began in 2006 have been at times severe on South Florida’s residents, businesses and local municipalities — not to mention our lawns.

But even without rain clouds, there is a silver lining. Floridians are paying close attention to water conservation, perhaps more than any time in recent memory. Because of emergency restrictions imposed on outdoor irrigation, we are learning that yards and gardens can survive with less water, that drought-tolerant plants are easy to maintain and that mulch not only holds in moisture, it also cuts down on weeds.

And while irrigation restrictions do not apply to indoor water use, a conservation mind-set is taking hold inside, too. We are discovering that turning off the faucet for teeth brushing is not a hardship, that fixing leaky fixtures makes economic sense and that doing full loads of laundry makes housekeeping a little easier.

Our residents have demonstrated their willingness to reduce water use during times of adversity. But, should it all go down the drain when the water shortage is over? Hardly. The ongoing rainfall deficit has presented an opportunity to change Florida’s future.

With unprecedented awareness about the availability of regional water supplies, we have a chance to reshape our culture toward one of year-round conservation. Our communities are ready. They care about doing the right thing, about not wasting resources and about protecting water for the environment. And they expect sound decision-making for our future.

That is where the South Florida Water Management District’s proposal for a comprehensive and lasting water conservation program fits in. Developed during the past five months with input from several dozen stakeholders — including utilities, nursery associations, municipalities, agriculture, developers and environmental interests — the program describes the rules, incentives and education strategies necessary for an enduring culture of conservation.

A key component of the comprehensive program took a step forward last week with the first in a series of public workshops to gain input on a rule that would permanently limit landscape irrigation in South Florida. With outdoor irrigation accounting for up to 50 percent of our water use, watering wisely represents the most effective and immediate way of achieving a lasting reduction in household water use.

Under normal conditions, South Florida’s average water use exceeds 170 gallons per person each day; through a two-day-a-week watering schedule, the district estimates that more than 125 million gallons can be saved daily (as recently evidenced by Phase II emergency water-shortage restrictions).

The year-round landscape-irrigation rule would limit watering throughout the district to two days per week, determined by street address, and prohibit all watering during midday hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) when air temperatures are warmest and irrigation efficiency is lowest. Some municipalities in South Florida have already implemented such a schedule with real success. Their local actions demonstrate that our yards can thrive with less irrigation.

Similar to the emergency restrictions currently in place, the year-round proposal would continue to allow hand watering and other types of low-volume irrigation and provide expanded watering days for new plantings. Likewise, it would not regulate car washing, boat rinsing, power-washing or other non-landscape use, although voluntary conservation will always be strongly encouraged.

One element of the rule, which would have subjected the residential and commercial use of reclaimed water to the same two-day watering restrictions, drew considerable and understandable concern from our stakeholders. We are listening to our constituents’ concerns about curbing reclaimed water use and recognize that, with limited storage within our boundaries, its application may provide more benefits for the environment than disposal.

Allowing more days for irrigation with reclaimed water may also create an incentive for its expansion in our southeastern counties, where the capacity to reuse water is as high as 50 percent in some areas but as low as 5 percent in others.

As we continue to work together to develop other alternative water supplies, however, we must remain mindful that all resources are finite. Taking a conservative approach with alternative supplies like the Floridan aquifer can provide for long-term solutions without creating new problems in our future.

These year-round landscape irrigation measures, in line with guidelines being considered by our neighboring water management districts in Southwest and Northeast Florida, aim to both save water and bring uniformity and predictability to residents and businesses throughout the most populous areas of Florida.

An adjustment to year-round conservation measures may challenge those who relied too long on the assumption that our water is available in endless supply. The drought vividly reminded us that it is not, and it also reminds us that it is time to make real and lasting changes for South Florida. We are building momentum toward a statewide ethic of water conservation — one that should serve as a model for the nation.