Lawn watering: Two days a week is permissible, but conserve as much as possible

Published 4:14 pm Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Sunday, March 10 marks the beginning of Daylight Saving Time (DST) and with it comes a change in the number of days lawn and landscape watering is allowed throughout the Suwannee River Water Management District (District).

The District’s year-round water conservation measures allow watering two days per week during DST (spring and summer months) and residents may choose which days to water. Irrigation should not occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to minimize evaporation.

“As always, we are asking everyone to do his/her part to conserve water as much as possible,” said District Executive Director Ann Shortelle. “We also strongly encourage the use of Florida Friendly Landscaping™ principles and skipping irrigation days when it rains near the time you plan to irrigate.”

The limits on landscape irrigation are part of an ongoing effort to help address water needs within the District. The irrigation measures apply to residential landscaping, public or commercial recreation areas, and public and commercial businesses that aren’t regulated by a District-issued permit. Farmers follow other conservation measures as part of their water use permits.

The irrigation measures apply to residents within the District’s boundaries, which means all of Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Union counties, and portions of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Jefferson, Levy and Putnam counties. Residents within the City of Alachua and the unincorporated areas of Alachua County also fall under a county ordinance which designates specific days residents are allowed to irrigate. Please call Alachua County at 352.264.6800 for more information.

For more information about the District’s water conservation measures visit www.mysuwanneeriver.com. For information on Florida Friendly Landscaping™ visit www.floridayards.org.