WATER
CONSERVATION BENEFITS EVERYONE
Water
use restrictions
Current
Water Restrictions
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has
declared a modified Phase III “Extreme Water Shortage”
for Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and Desoto counties. Since
the City of Sarasota already has a once-per week schedule,
your watering day will remain the same. However, please note
more restrictive irrigation hours and other Phase III water
restrictions stated below.
Note: Water restrictions apply to ALL ground and surface water
sources such as wells, canals, lakes, streams and ponds.
Commercial and residential lawn and landscape irrigation is
limited to once per week. Find your designated watering day
below:
• Addresses ending in an even number or letters A thru
M may water on Tuesday ONLY.
• Addresses ending in an odd number or letters N thru
Z (and locations where no address can be determined) may water
on Thursday ONLY.
• Automatic irrigation systems are required to have
rain shut-off device, per Florida Statutes.
• Properties under two acres in size may only water
before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. For properties two acres or
larger, no watering is allowed between the hours of 10 a.m.
and 4 p.m.
• Reclaimed water users are strongly encouraged to follow
the time of use restrictions.
Exceptions to Water Restrictions (Changes as of Feb.
24, 2009)
• Fountains and waterfalls may only operate four hours
per day.
• New or replacement lawns may water for a total of
30 days, if needed.
o Watering may occur any day during the first 15 days but
will be limited to every other day after the first 15 days.
o No watering can occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• For other new plant establishment, watering may occur
for a total of 60 days, if needed.
o Watering may occur any day during the first 30 days but
will be limited to every other day after the first 30 days.
o No watering can occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Hand watering and micro-irrigation of plants (not
lawns) may occur any day; however, no watering can occur between
8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Car washing is limited to once per week; however,
fundraiser events are still allowed.
Water
conservation is the most important practice we all can perform
to sustain water supplies, meet future consumer needs and
reduce the demands on Florida’s water natural resources.
The City obtains its drinking water from deep groundwater
aquifers. Aquifers are a limited natural resource; therefore,
the protection and conservation of water is imperative for
the future health and welfare of the City.
Simple
Water Conservation Practices:
Do
not dispose of water down the drain if there is another use
for it, such as watering plants.
Verify that your home plumbing is leak free.
Repair
your faucets by replacing washers. If your faucet is dripping
at a rate of one drip per second, you could expect to waste
2,700 gallons of water per year
Check toilet tanks for leaks by adding food coloring to the
tank. If the toilet is leaking, color will appear in the toilet
bowl within 30 minutes.
Take shorter showers and replace the shower head with ultra-low
flow devices.
Operate dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are
fully loaded.
Properly
adjust sprinklers to avoid over spray into the gutter, sidewalks,
or driveways.
Raise
the lawn mower blade to 3 inches to cause grass roots to grow
deeper where moisture is held by the soil longer.
Install an automatic rain shutoff device to avoid watering
while it is raining.Collect
rainwater in containers to use for watering your plants.
Install a drip or micro-spray system in your plant beds to
use water more efficiently. |
