New Irrigation Rules Set for Florida Region

New irrigation rules will go into effect March 8 that will limit watering lawns to one day a week during parts of the year, unless reclaimed water or recycled storm water is used.

The St. Johns River Water Management District approved the rules that will impact residents in Indian River, Brevard and other counties within the district.

Under the amendments, landscape irrigation will be limited to two days a week during daylight-saving time and one day the rest of the year. No landscape irrigation is allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The new rule also sets the days of the week that residential and non-residential users can irrigate during daylight-saving time. Those days are:

• Wednesday and Saturday for residential landscape irrigation at odd-numbered addresses or no addresses
• Thursday and Sunday for residential landscape irrigation at even-numbered addresses
• Tuesday and Friday for non-residential landscape irrigation

The rest of the year, residential landscaping will be limited to:

• Saturdays at odd-numbered addresses or no addresses
• Sundays at even-numbered addresses
• Tuesdays for non-residential landscape irrigation.

Landscape irrigation will be limited to three-quarter inch of water per irrigation zone on each day that irrigation occurs and no more than one hour per irrigation zone on these days.

Officials have noted these measures may be difficult to enforce and said they will be emphasizing education over enforcement.

NEW IRRIGATION RULES

• St. Johns River Water Management District Tuesday passed new limitations on irrigation that will take effect March 8.
• The district did not include reclaimed water or recycled storm water in these restrictions, but will hold separate hearings to discuss these two resources over the next several months.