New Water Restrictions for Monroe County beginning Thursday, June 18, 2009

The new rules for water restrictions are as follows:

♦ For odd-numbered addresses, irrigation is allowed on Wednesday and Saturday from midnight to 10:00 a.m. and/or from 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

♦ For even-numbered addresses, irrigation is allowed on Thursday and Sunday from midnight to 10:00 a.m. and/or from 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

♦ Properties with no street address and systems that irrigate both even and odd addresses within the same zone, including multi-family units, homeowners associations, commercial complexes, and retail shopping centers, should follow the schedule for even-numbered addresses.

♦ Low-volume systems, such as drip, bubble, and micro-jet systems that apply water directly to root plant zones, may be used at any time.

For more information, click here for the updated SFWMD official bulletin regarding Water Restrictions effective 6/18/09.

For FAQs and additional information on the water shortage, irrigation restrictions, or water conservations, call the SFWMD's toll-free Water Conservation Hotline at 800-662-8876, log onto http://www.sfwmd.gov/conserve, or contact a regional service center.  Helpful water conservation tips are also available at www.savewaterfl.com.

For a "Xeriscape" fact sheet, click here. (pdf)

For a fact sheet on how to "Conserve Water in a Vegetable Garden," click here. (pdf)

Make your own rain barrel by clicking here for instructions. (pdf)

Click here to view a "Water Conservation Slide Show" by Kim Gabel. (pdf)

Click here to read "Water Conservation: A Comprehensive Program for South Florida 9/2008" (pdf)

Click here to view a "Reduce Your Water Use - No Excuse!" slide show by SFWMD. (pdf)

Other Links

Indoor Water-saving Tips

You can do your part to conserve water by following the suggestions below:

KITCHEN

Sink

• Install an instant water heater instead of letting it run until hot.
• Keep water bottle in fridge, rather than running tap until cold.
• Avoid using water-softening systems.

Dishes

• Let soak, rather than scraping with water running.
• Fill one sink to wash, one to rinse.
• Designate one glass each day for your drinking water.
• Run dishwasher only when fully loaded.

Cooking

• Thaw food in refrigerator overnight or defrost in microwave, not under running water.
• Cook food in as little water and pot/pan as possible.
• Don't use garbage disposal; compost instead.

BATHROOM

Toilet

• If food coloring seeps from tank to bowl in 30 minutes, you have a leak.
• Don't use the toilet as a trash can by putting debris like tissues, insects, etc., in it.
• Put water displacement device in tank.
• Do not leave water running while brushing your teeth, shaving, or soaping hands.

Tub/Shower

• Limit your shower to 5 minutes.  Turn water off when soaping your body and applying shampoo.

• If shower fills one-gallon bucket in 20 seconds, replace with one that uses 2.5 gallons per minute.
• Bathe younger children together.

PLANTS

• Reuse water captured from a fish tank, a pet dish, dropped ice cubes, rinsing produce in the sink, showering with a bucket, and waiting for water to get hot.