Water use restrictions go into effect June 13
6-12-12
LIVE OAK, FL, June 12, 2012 – Water restrictions for all users within the Suwannee River Water Management District (District) are in effect June 13 through Sept. 30. The District’s Governing Board voted on May 29 to adopt a Phase III Water Shortage Order in response to low water levels brought on by long-term drought.
Under the order, restrictions, and some exemptions, will apply to residential, agricultural, commercial, and industrial users within the District’s boundaries. This includes all of Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Union counties, and portions of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Jefferson, Levy and Putnam counties.
The restrictions mostly target outdoor water use, particularly lawn and landscape irrigation which usually accounts for half of household use. Following is a list of some of the restrictions that apply:
Lawn & Landscape Irrigation:
Watering of existing lawns and landscapes is limited to one day per week and is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Designated watering days are determined according to an even-odd address numbering system as follows:
· House addresses ending in 0 or 1 may only irrigate on Monday.
· Addresses ending in 2 or 3 may only irrigate on Tuesday.
· Addresses ending in 4 or 5 may only irrigate on Wednesday.
· Addresses ending in 6 or 7 may only irrigate on Thursday.
· Addresses ending in 8 or 9 may only irrigate on Friday.
· Residences with no address (community common areas, etc.) may only irrigate on Friday.
While watering with sprinklers and irrigation systems is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., watering with a hand-held hose with nozzle is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
For new lawns and landscapes irrigation is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and watering is limited to the minimum amount required for establishment of lawn. After the first 60 days following planting, the rules for established lawns and landscapes take effect.
Treated wastewater irrigation and irrigation for home vegetable gardens are exempt from the restrictions.
Agricultural Irrigation:
Overhead irrigation by high pressure/high volume systems is prohibited between noon and 9 p.m. No off-site application or irrigation water on non-targeted areas is allowed.
There are no restrictions on the use of treated wastewater for irrigation and on low pressure/low volume irrigation systems.
Many of the area’s farmers and producers implement water conservation plans and have retrofitted their irrigation systems to increase efficiency and reduce total water use. Systems that have been certified by an independent irrigation laboratory within the past five years prior to the effective date of a water shortage order to be as efficient as practicable or are compliant with applicable water conservation best management practices are not restricted.
Golf Courses & Recreational Uses:
Greens and tees may be watered any day but not between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Watering of fairways, roughs, and non-play areas on the front nine holes of the course is allowed on odd-numbered days but is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Watering of fairways, roughs, and non-play areas on the back nine holes of the course is on even-numbered days but is prohibited between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Use of water for recreational purposes shall be reduced to the greatest extent practicable.
Other Outdoor/Indoor Uses:
Car washing is limited to once per week on the designated watering day for the location. Fundraising and commercial car washes and the washing of emergency and other first responder vehicles are exempt. Outside pressure cleaning is restricted to only low-volume methods. Outside aesthetic uses of water is prohibited (fountains, for example). Inside aesthetic uses of water is prohibited. Washing or cleaning streets, driveways, sidewalks, or other impervious areas with water is prohibited except to meet federal, state, or local health or safety standards.
Commercial/Industrial & Water Utilities:
Mining, manufacturing, processing plants, bottled water plants, and power companies must adhere to certain restrictions and are encouraged to reduce all non-essential uses of water. Water utilities must adhere to certain conservation measures.
To review the restrictions in their entirety, visit the water shortage page on the District’s website at www.mysuwanneeriver.com/watershortage. A variance form to request relief from one or more of these regulations is also available on the website.
eddie…you have to remember that this will be local law enforcement if WMD gets their way. They are busy trying to lay off enforcement on the counties. But I think a reward system would be a capital idea. It would create jobs, spur on the economy in case liquor doesn’t pass and be a great opportunity to retaliate against your enemies. And if someone gets uppity about getting a ticket and fine for washing their car, be forewarned and armed. Until the task force on Stand Your Ground is complete and the Zimmerman ordeal with its 20 million dollar public price tag is over, we can always claim stand your ground as a defense. While any death is tragic, a few casualties in the name of water conservation should be expected. But the reward needs to be large to really get a groundswell of support.
Are they going to cite Nestle’s or the peanut plant ? They are the true water bandits !!!
@Frank:
Is there a reward for finking to the water fuzz?
Just to keep you kids informed about how the Water Management District is helping the water shortage now….They have gone to Lafayette and Dixie County’s with another great idea! There is a hot line that you can call to report your neighbor and any lawn watering or car washing infractions they might be committing. Then, they plan to call the local sheriff’s department so they can send a deputy out to write you a citation. Lafayette and Dixie told them to go jump in a lake if they could find one with water. In other business, next Tuesday, they will issue a bundled permit to PSC Phosphate in White Springs for 84 million gallons a day of groundwater and 343 million gallons a day of impounded surface water. In other news, Jacksonville Electric and the St. Johns Water Management District are having water shortage issues. So the powers that be have cleverly moved the line of demarcation between the two districts. So now the Jacksonville Electric Authority is pumping 1 miillion gallons a day out of what was historically water from the Suwannee River Water Management watershed. Still the same water, just redrew the map. Personally, I’m going to start checking on who is watering the lawn and make sure they are on the right day. Maybe make a couple citizens arrests! What sport – although I suspect it might lead to violence. And don’t forget to check your faucets for drips. Every little drop we can save helps.