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Tampa adopts Swiftmud's less-strict watering restrictions
Posted on Jul 31st, 2012
Meeting in Brooksville, the governing board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District on Tuesday voted to lift its Phase II water shortage restrictions, which had called for once-a-week watering by residents of Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties.
The restrictions had been in place because of near-drought conditions that had parched the region for years.
But above-average rains in summer 2011, anticipated summer rains this year and the wet June in which nearly 20 inches of rain fell – much of it from Tropical Storm Debby – prompted the board to change the restrictions.
The district’s rules are advisory and local governments have the option of retaining the Phase II regulations or following the district’s recommendations.
Within hours of the announcement, the Tampa Water Department said it would follow the district’s recommendation, effective today.
Tampa homeowners may irrigate their lawns and foliage using the following schedule:
- Addresses ending in 0, 1, 2 or 3 may irrigate on Mondays and/or Thursdays.
- Addresses ending in 4, 5 or 6 may irrigate on Tuesdays and/or Fridays.
- Addresses ending in 7, 8 or 9 may irrigate on Wednesdays and/or Saturdays.
- Locations with no address or with mixed addresses may irrigate on Wednesdays and/or Fridays.
All watering must be done before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. and only once on your designated days.
The restrictions apply to all residents - not just customers of public utilities - and most water sources. That includes private wells, and ponds or lakes that are used as alternate irrigation supplies.
The use of reclaimed water is not subject to the day-of-week or time-of-day restrictions, although these customers are encouraged to use only what they need.
Hand-watering and low-volume irrigation of plant material other than lawns or turf grass may be done on any day and at any time.
New sod and landscaping may be watered on any day for the first 30 days. On days 31-60, new sod and landscaping may be watered approximately every other day - even-numbered addresses on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; odd-numbered addresses on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. An irrigation system zone can only be operated if the new sod or plant material covers at least 50 percent of that zone.
Fountains, Car Washing, Pressure Washing - no restrictions, yet residents are asked to still use water conservation methods, such as using a shutoff nozzle on their hose so water isn't wasted.
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