Lawn Watering Restrictions Eased But Conservation Still Urged

Thank Tropical Storm Debby and the summer rains for some relief from watering restrictions. Board members for the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMWD) have voted to lift the "Modified Phase II" water-shortage restrictions for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Effective Aug. 1, Greater Brandon residents are allowed to return to year-round water conservation measures, which means it's okay to water lawns and landscaping two days a week.

But despite the respite from a one- day a-week watering schedule, SWFWMD board members are urging county residents to keep in place the conservation practices they've learned to live by during the recent drought.

Twice-a-week watering days are as follows:

• Addresses ending in 0, 1, 2 or 3 — Mondays and Thursdays

• Addresses ending in 4, 5 or 6 — Tuesdays and Fridays

• Addresses ending in 7, 8 or 9 — Wednesdays and Saturdays

• Locations with no address (common areas) and locations with mixed addresses (such as office complexes and shopping centers) — Wednesdays and Saturdays.

All watering must be done before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. and only once on your designated days.

The restrictions apply to all residents — not just customers of public utilities — and most water sources. That includes private wells and ponds or lakes that are used as alternate irrigation supplies.

The use of reclaimed water is not subject to the day-of-week or time-of-day restrictions, although these customers are encouraged to use only what they need.

Hand-watering and low-volume irrigation of plant material other than lawns or turfgrass may be done on any day and at any time.

New sod and landscaping may be watered on any day for the first 30 days. On days 31-60, new sod and landscaping may be watered approximately every other day - even-numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; odd-numbered addresses on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. An irrigation system zone can only be operated if the new sod or plant material covers at least 50 percent of that zone.

Fountains, Car Washing, Pressure Washing – no restrictions, yet residents are asked to still use water conservation methods, such as using a shutoff nozzle on their hose so water isn’t wasted.

For complete information on these and other restrictions visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/water. Or, call 813-275-7094 for a recorded message, or the Water Conservation Team at 813-272-5977, ext. 43991, during regular business hours.