Year-Round Water Conservation for South Florida beginning Friday, November 13, 2009

The Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule limits irrigation of existing landscapes to two days per week.  A provision in the rule allows for three-day-a-week irrigation in counties south of Lake Okeechobee, including Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties.

Rule Highlights Include:

♦ Two-Day-a-Week watering in Charlotte, Highlands, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, and Polk counties.

♦ Options for Three-Day-a-Week watering in Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties.

♦ No irrigation allowed on any day between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

♦ Irrigation using reclaimed water, rain harvesting systems, and various low-volume methods - such as as micro-irrigation, container watering, and hand watering with a hose and automatic shut-off nozzle - is not subject to restrictions.

♦ Additional watering is allowed following the installation of new lawns and landscaping for up to 90 days.

The District may grant variances for "smart" irrigation technologies described in Senate Bill 2080, passed by the Florida Legislature in 2009.

More information about the Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule is available at www.sfwmd.gov/2days.

For Year-Round 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 or contact a regional service center.  Helpful water conservation tips are also available at www.savewaterfl.com.

To read the November 2009 SFWMD News Release, click here. (pdf)

For a "Just the Facts" fact sheet, click here. (pdf)

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.