We’ve all seen it — as a summer thunderstorm dumps rain by the bucket full, a neighbor’s irrigation system sprays water on a lawn that’s already dripping wet.
Florida in the summertime is the last place on Earth that anyone would need a sprinkler system. And yet, this happens far too often.
For all you water wasters out there, here are the rules you should be abiding by, according to the St. Johns River Management District.
Why it matters
“Public water supply is the largest category of water use in the district’s 18-county region — about 565.5 million gallons of water a day,’’ St. Johns says on its website. “The bulk of this water is for residential water use, and landscape irrigation can account for more than 50 percent of total water use at residential locations. Freshwater is a finite resource in Florida, and increased conservation will delay the need to implement some expensive alternative water supplies in the future.”
In other words, save water now, or the price you’ll pay for it will go up. Already, the district is exploring the use of treated surface water from rivers, a much more expensive way to deliver water compared with drawing it from underground as we do now.
Irrigation rules
Watering is not allowed at all year-round between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. So adjust your sprinkler timers if they are set for those hours.
During daylight saving time, which runs from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November, irrigation is limited to no more than two days per week.
Residential irrigation is allowed on Wednesday and Saturday at addresses that end in an odd number or have no address at all. (Do such places exist?) For addresses ending in an even number, residential irrigation is allowed on Thursday and Sunday. Businesses and offices can sprinkle their greenery on Tuesday and Friday.
During Eastern Standard Time, which starts in November and ends in March, you can irrigate your lawn no more than once per week. Residences that end in an odd number or have no address can water on Saturday. For even-numbered addresses, it’s Sunday.
Nonresidential irrigation is allowed only on Tuesday.
Some exceptions
Hand watering with a spray nozzle that has an automatic shutoff valve is always allowed. So if the thunderstorms abate for a couple of days, get out your hose (early in the morning or as the sun goes down) and water away. This also is helpful during the dry, cooler months in the winter and spring.
You’re also allowed to water new grass or shrubs daily for up to 30 days straight and every other day for 30 more days as needed.
Penalties
The water district leaves enforcement up to local governments. In Orange County, first-time violators get a warning through a door hanger notice and by certified letter. Repeat violators can face a fine of $25 per violation.
Easy fixes
Get a rain sensor that will keep sprinklers from coming on during or after storms. Set your sprinkler timers for the correct days and hours. Or turn off the system entirely during the wet, summer months.
You’ll save water, save money and do your good deed for the state’s environment.
mskoneki@orlandosentinel.com
