Pinellas Water Restrictions To Change Again

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Once again, Pinellas County will adjust its watering restrictions for residents and businesses.

Starting Wednesday, Aug. 2, Pinellas County Utilities will return to a twice-weekly watering schedule after a Southwest Florida Water Management District water shortage order issued in May expired. The county recommends residents who are customers of other utilities to check with their supplier to verify watering days and times.

SWFWMD’s governing board voted to allow the water shortage order to expire for Pinellas County and nine other Tampa Bay-area counties because of recent rainfall in the region.

For Pinellas County Utilities customers, lawn-watering is limited to a twice weekly schedule using potable, well, lake or pond sources:

• Addresses ending in an even number: Thursdays and/or Sundays
• Addresses ending in an odd number: Wednesdays and/or Saturdays
• Addresses with mixed or no addresses, such as common arears in residential subdivisions, Tuesdays and/or Fridays

Lawn irrigation is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Hand-watering and micro-irrigation of plants can be done on any day at any time when needed.

New lawns have a 60-day establishment period under the restrictions. During the first 30 days, new lawns can be watered any day of the week. During the second 30 days, lawns can be watered three days per week on the following schedule:

• Even-numbered addresses: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays
• Odd-numbered addresses: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays

To help during water restrictions, the UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension recommends:

• Water only when plants or lawns begin to wilt
• Consider using soil moisture sensors along with an irrigation system to automatically gauge water needs and operate sprinklers
• Increase mowing height to the highest setting to reduce stress on lawns
• Check and clear filters in irrigation systems
• Clean and properly direct sprinkler heads
• Do not use fertilizer during dry conditions
• Remove weeds to lessen competition for available water
• Use mulch to keep moisture near roots of plants

Customers using reclaimed water provided by Pinellas County Utilities are asked to follow the reclaimed water restrictions found at www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/reclaim-irrigation.htm.

For more information about the Pinellas County Utilities watering restrictions, call (727) 464-4000 or visit www.pinellascounty.org/utilities-water-restrict.htm.

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