The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board has concurred with the Water Shortage Order, which restricts lawn watering throughout the District to one-day-per-week, at Tuesday’s meeting.
The water shortage order was declared earlier this month by the District’s Executive Director David L. Moore following a lengthy presentation by staff outlining the depressed hydrologic conditions. The order went into effect Jan. 16 and includes restrictions that apply to the use of water from public and private water utilities as well as the use of all wells and surface water sources (ponds, rivers, etc.).
The Governing Board chose to concur with the water shortage order after an in-depth presentation by staff outlining the depressed hydrologic conditions in the District and the state.
“After reviewing the information presented, the Board chose to concur with the water shortage order in an effort to protect our water resources,” said Jerry Rice, Governing Board chair. “While the District is still in the early stages of a drought, it is important for everyone to do their part to conserve.”
The order will remain in place until July 31 unless otherwise modified or rescinded by the executive director or the Governing Board.
The following is a schedule and summary of the restrictions.
If your address (house number) ends in
...0 or 1, water only on Monday
...2 or 3, water only on Tuesday
...4 or 5, water only on Wednesday
...6 or 7, water only on Thursday
...8 or 9*, water only on Friday
*and locations without a discernible address
Lawn & Landscape Watering
- If your city or county already has a once-per-week schedule in effect, your watering day will remain the same.
- If you were previously allowed to follow a twice-per-week schedule, you now need to follow the schedule shown.
- Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties under two acres in size may only water before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties two acres or larger may only water before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
- Variances are available if a property proposes an alternative irrigation plan (such as splitting a large property into two pieces and assigning a different day to each piece).
- Handwatering or microirrigation of non-lawn landscape is allowed.
- Certain exemptions are available, such as allowances for new plant material.