Note: The new year-round water conservation measures will not go into effect until the current water shortage order, which restricts lawn watering to one-day-per-week, is lifted.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted in December to approve revisions to the District’s two-day-per-week year-round water conservation measures to coincide with similar measures in other areas of the state.
Compared to the state’s four other water management districts, the District currently has the most stringent set of adopted two-day-per-week year-round water conservation measures. These measures went into effect Sept. 15, 2003 after nearly two years of public input and review.
District staff has been working with staff from the St. Johns River Water Management District and South Florida Water Management District to develop consistent measures to avoid confusion in counties that are located in more than one District.
Any future water shortage restrictions declared by the Districts in response to a drought would be in addition to these year-round measures. The new year-round water conservation measures will not go into effect in this District until the current water shortage order, which restricts lawn watering to one-day-per-week, is lifted.
Here are the main revised features of the year-round water conservation measures:
- Residential properties will have a maximum of twice-per-week watering with specified days, unless further restricted by a Water Shortage Order or more restrictive local ordinance.
- Nonresidential properties will have a separate twice-per-week watering schedule.
- Common-sense limitations regarding the filling of aesthetic-only ponds have been added.
Some of the other important features of the year-round water conservation measures include:
- New plants have a revised 60-day establishment period, or exemption from the “day of week” provision. The revision allows any-day watering during the first 30 days, followed by an every-other-day schedule during the second 30 days.
- Other key exemptions from the twice-per-week watering schedule remain intact, including watering-in of lawn chemicals and the ability to water shrubs, gardens and other non-lawn plants using low-volume irrigation. Low-volume irrigation includes micro-irrigation, soaker hoses and hand-watering.
- Reclaimed water remains subject to voluntary watering hours, unless blended with another water source or restricted by the applicable reclaimed water provider.
In addition to the year-round rule, the District will continue to require additional water conservation activities by industry, agriculture and golf courses through the use of water use permits and associated best management practices.
If you have any questions about the year-round conservation measures, please call the District at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4498 or 1-800-848-0499.