"This is just another one of the many ways in which we're conserving our water resources," said Manatee County utility spokeswoman Amy Merrill.
Maria Favasuli, who co-owns Fav's Italian Cucina on 12th Street West in downtown Bradenton, said she wasn't aware of the new requirement but thinks it's a good idea.
"We've always done that, so it won't be an issue," she said Tuesday. "To give it out and not have people drink, it always seemed wasteful."
While Manatee County's current water supply is low but not in danger, other counties in the Southwest Florida Water Management District are experiencing more drastic reductions in their supplies, which has an indirect impact here, Merrill said.