Official Lee County Government Web Site

Revised Emergency Water Restrictions Start Friday

Two-Day-A-Week Landscape Watering for Most of Region Begins April 18

West Palm Beach, FL – Modifications to the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) emergency water restrictions will become effective Friday, April 18, when most of the agency's 16-county region transitions from one-day-week residential landscape irrigation restrictions to up to two-day-a-week watering.

The District's nine-member Governing Board last week adopted a "Modified Phase II Severe Water Shortage Order" based on improved regional water resource conditions. Under the District's emergency authority, decisions to implement and modify water shortage restrictions are resource-based. The new schedule for landscape watering will continue conserving water supplies as part of the District's response to the regional rainfall deficit. Landscape irrigation accounts for up to half of all household water consumption in Florida.

The District implemented one-day-a-week restrictions region-wide in January for the first time in the agency's history, based on extreme water shortage conditions and a continued rainfall deficit of close to 25 inches. SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann said last week, "It's important to note that we are not lifting emergency restrictions. Our decision to modify the restrictions is based on the improved conditions of our water resources."

Although the revised landscape irrigation restrictions go into effect April 18, the SFWMD is encouraging local governments to refrain from enforcement until Thursday, May 1. The goal is to provide residents with sufficient time to become aware of the changes and adjust timers or other components of their residential irrigation systems. The modified mandatory restrictions apply to all water from traditional sources, including water from public utilities, private wells, canals, ponds and lakes.

Highlights of the Modified Phase II Water Shortage Order
Residents and businesses of Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade, Monroe, St. Lucie and coastal areas of Lee, Martin and Palm Beach counties, including the City of West Palm Beach, are limited to a two-day-per-week landscape irrigation schedule with two "watering windows":

Odd street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. and/or 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Even street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Thursdays and Sundays from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. and/or 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Hand-watering with one hose fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed for 10 minutes per day for landscape stress relief and to prevent plant die-off. Additional watering days and times are allocated for the establishment of new lawns and landscapes.

No restrictions apply to other outside water uses, such as for car and boat washing, pressure cleaning of paved surfaces, decorative fountains and water-based recreation (e.g. swimming pools, water slides).

Landscape irrigation using 100-percent reclaimed water is allowed any day except Friday, from 12 a.m. to 10 a.m. and/or from 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Golf courses must reduce their allocated water use by 30 percent.

Because jurisdiction in certain counties is shared with other water management districts, the SFWMD has coordinated with these agencies to simplify implementation and enforcement:

Residents of Orange and Osceola counties should adhere to any water restrictions set by the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Residents of Polk, Charlotte and Highlands counties should adhere to the water restrictions set by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

One-Day-Week Watering Remains in Effect in Areas of Concern
Due to continued local concerns about water resource availability, one-day-a week watering remains in place for the cities of Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Lake Worth and Lantana and portions of unincorporated Lee County, including the Lehigh Acres and Gateway areas. One-day-a week landscape irrigation remains in place for residents and businesses in the Lake Okeechobee Service Area, which includes portions of Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and western Martin and Palm Beach counties.

For additional information on the water shortage, irrigation restrictions or water conservation, call the SFWMD's toll-free Water Shortage Hotline at 1-800-662-8876, visit www.sfwmd.gov/conserve or contact a regional SFWMD service center. Helpful water conservation tips are available at www.savewaterfl.com.

Your local SFWMD contact is:

Lower West Coast - Susan Sanders
Office: (239) 338-2929 ext. 7715; Cellular: (239) 229-7295

For additional information contact Public Resources at 239-533-2737
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