South Florida Moves to Two-Day-A-Week Emergency Water Restrictions

In response to improved regional water resource conditions, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) 7 modified emergency water restrictions across most of the agency's 16-county region, transitioning from one-day-week landscape irrigation restrictions to two-day-a-week watering. The District's nine-member Governing Board adopted a "Modified Phase II Severe Water Shortage Order" effective April 18, instituting an up to two-day-a-week watering schedule for residential landscape irrigation. The schedule will continue conserving regional water supplies as part of the District's response to the regional rainfall deficit. Landscape irrigation accounts for up to half of all household water consumption in Florida.

The modified 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.

Highlights of the Modified Phase II water shortage order include:

• Residents and businesses are limited to a two-day-per-week landscape irrigation schedule with two "watering windows:"
• Odd street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. and/or 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• Even street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Thursdays and Sundays from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. and/or 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
• The SFWMD recommends the efficient use of water, which includes placing a maximum of about three-quarters of an inch to an inch of water once per week on lawns and accomplishing irrigation during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest to reduce evaporation losses.
• 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 are 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 30 percent.