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Hillsborough County, FL
05/10/2012 | Press release
05/10/12 - Hillsborough County Lawn Watering Returns To One Day A Week, Effective Immediately
distributed by noodls on 05/10/2012 16:37
For media use only:
Michelle Van Dyke
Communications
Telephone: 813-272-5977 ext. 43248
Cellular Phone:
Hillsborough County may have gotten some rain overnight, but effective immediately, tighter water restrictions are now in effect. That includes limiting lawn watering to once a week.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has declared a Modified Phase II Water Shortage for the Tampa Bay area, including Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The declaration is in response to drier-than-normal conditions following last year's below-average rainfall, which has caused low water levels throughout the district's 16-county region.
The new schedule for watering established lawns and landscaping throughout Hillsborough County, including the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace, is:
- Addresses ending in 0 or 1 - Mondays
- Addresses ending in 2 or 3 - Tuesdays
- Addresses ending in 4 or 5 - Wednesdays
- Addresses ending in 6 or 7 - Thursdays
- Addresses ending in 8 or 9, locations with no address, and locations with mixed addresses (such as office complexes and shopping centers) - Fridays
All watering must be done before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
The tighter 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.
Reclaimed water customers are exempt from the water restrictions, although these customers are encouraged to use only what they need.
Other highlights of the Modified Phase II Water Shortage restrictions include:
- Hand-watering- residents may hand-water plants and shrubs, or use a drip irrigation system in landscaping beds, on any day - but only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- New sod and landscaping- Days 1-30, may be watered any day. Days 31-60, 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 watered if the new material comprises at least 50 percent of that zone.
- Vehicle washing- commercial car washes and fundraising car washes are allowed at any time. Individuals may wash vehicles once a week, on the designated watering day for the address.
- Pressure washing- allowed as needed for safety and other necessary purposes.
- Homeowners associations- cannot require pressure washing, lawn replacement or other activities requiring additional water use.
The tighter restrictions are in place until at least July 31.
For complete information on these and other restrictions in unincorporated Hillsborough County - as well as links to information from the cities of Tampa, Plant City and Temple Terrace - visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/water. Or, call 813-275-7094 for a recorded message, or the Water Conservation Team at 813-272-5977, ext. 43991, during regular business hours.
