~Posted December 26, 2007~
We are experiencing one
of the worst droughts on record.
Brown lawns are a small price to pay to have an adequate source
of drinking water for our very large populations.
Carol Wehle,
Executive Director SFWMD
Effective
January 15, 2008
Although summer rains helped coastal
communities, water levels in Lake Okeechobee and many other lakes,
rivers, wetlands and aquifers are very low. That's why
mandatory water restrictions are more stringent with
one-day-per-week restrictions effective January 15, 2008.
Year-round conservation requirements are being considered countywide.
Regional
Water Levels Begin Seasonal Decline; Water Shortage Order
Provides “Watering Windows” for Landscape Irrigation
West Palm Beach, FL
– For the first time in the agency's history, the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD) today declared an extreme District-wide
water shortage, directly affecting more than five million South
Florida residents and thousands of farms and businesses. At its
monthly meeting, the District's nine-member Governing Board adopted a
groundbreaking water shortage order, instituting a one-day-a-week
watering schedule for residential landscape irrigation to conserve
regional water supplies. Landscape irrigation accounts for up to half
of all household water consumption in Florida and totals more than
seven billion gallons per day nationwide.
"Today's order represents the most
stringent landscape irrigation measures that this agency has ever had
to impose, but we believe it will significantly help to protect and
stretch our regional water supplies," said SFWMD Governing Board
Chairman Eric Buermann. "We appreciate the public's understanding and
compliance with these necessary restrictions that will result in
measurable water savings."
Highlights of the Modified Phase III
water shortage order, which will be enforced beginning January
15, 2008, include:
- Residents and businesses of
Okeechobee, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade,
Monroe, Hendry and Glades counties are limited to a
one-day-per-week landscape irrigation schedule with two "watering
windows."
- Odd
street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on
Mondays between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or
4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- Even
street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on
Thursdays between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
or 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- Residents and businesses with
more than five acres have expanded irrigation
hours, between 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or
4:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on their designated irrigation
day.
- Residents and businesses in
Lee and Collier counties are limited to one-day-a-week
watering during specific four-hour "watering windows" directly
associated with their
unique street addresses (page 3 of this PDF).
- Hand-watering with one hose fitted
with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed for 10 minutes per day
for landscape stress relief and to prevent plant die-off.
- Low-volume irrigation, including the
use of drip and microjet systems that apply water directly to plant
root zones, is not restricted but should be voluntarily reduced.
- Additional watering days and times
will be allocated for the establishment of new lawns and landscapes.
- No restrictions apply to other
outside water uses, such as for car and boat washing, pressure
cleaning of paved surfaces, decorative fountains and water-based
recreation (e.g. swimming pools, water slides).
- Golf courses must reduce their
allocated water use by 45 percent.
"Our lawns do not need to be watered
more than once a week during the dry season, and with seasonal
rainfall to help, it should be more than enough to maintain a healthy
lawn," added Buermann.
The new, mandatory restrictions apply
to all water from traditional sources, including water from public
utilities, private wells, canals, ponds and lakes. Users of
100-percent reclaimed water are exempt from the restrictions but are
encouraged to conserve water voluntarily.
Because jurisdiction in certain
counties is shared with other water management districts, the SFWMD
has coordinated with these agencies to simplify implementation and
enforcement. Residents of Orange and Osceola counties
should adhere to any water restrictions set by the
St. Johns River Water Management District. Residents of
Polk, Highlands, and Charlotte counties should adhere to the
water restrictions set by the
Southwest Florida Water Management District. However, golf
courses, nurseries, and agricultural users District-wide
should follow SFWMD water use restrictions.
Restrictions Make a
Difference!
Implementing water use restrictions has already proved effective
during the continued regional water shortage. Based on data reported
by 46 public water utilities in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St.
Lucie, Collier, Lee and Miami-Dade counties, an estimated 11.7 billion
gallons of potable water was saved since March 22, when restrictions
first went into effect, through June 30. Savings were most pronounced
on non-watering days. For example, one day per week landscape
irrigation restrictions instituted in Broward and Palm Beach counties
saved an estimated 130 million gallons a day of potable water.