Jan 15, 2008 12:43 pm US/Eastern
South Florida Under New Water Restrictions
Modified Phase III: Lawn Watering Only Once A Week
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
South Florida is now under some of the tightest water restrictions ever imposed by the South Florida Water Management District.
Implementation of the modified Phase III restrictions, which will be in effect from Orlando to the Keys, is the first time ever the water district has imposed the severe restrictions uniformly throughout its 16 county territory.
Starting Tuesday, odd numbered addresses are only allowed to water their lawns on Monday from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. or 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Even numbered addresses are only allowed to water their lawns on Thursday from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. or 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information on the restrictions
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"Our lawns do not need to be watered more than once a week during the dry season, and with seasonal rainfall to help, it should be more than enough to maintain a healthy lawn," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann. "We appreciate the public's understanding and compliance with these necessary restrictions that will result in measurable water savings."
Under the modified Phase III plan, watering is allowed on any day for a ten minute period, using a hose that has a shut off nozzle, for any stressed or dying plant. Also additional watering days are allowed for new landscaping or new lawns up to 60 days.
Low volume watering, which utilizes drip hoses or microjet systems which apply water directly to a plant's roots, will not be restricted but the district asks that it be voluntarily reduced. Golf courses are also being asked to voluntarily cut back their water use by 45-percent.
There will be no restrictions on car or boat washing, low volume pressure cleaning, decorative fountains, and swimming pools.
Click Here for a full listing of the 'do's and don'ts' under the modified Phase III plan.
The SFWMD says despite all of the rain South Florida has had over the last few months, we still haven't recovered from the drought. Lake Okeechobee remains approximately four feet below normal and more than a foot below its previous record low for the date. Water managers say households across Miami-Dade and Broward use 6 million gallons of water a day with half of that being used to water lawns. The district hopes the modified Phase III restrictions will reduce water use by 45-percent across the 16 county region.
Residents in South Florida said they are being affected by the water restrictions. "It is affecting me because I can't water my lawn and is actually turning brown," Steve Martinez told CBS4's Sharrie Williams. "And is costing money with having to fertilize more."
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