Jun 18, 2007 12:49 pm US/Eastern
Water Managers Discuss Year Round Restrictions
Click Here for FAST FACTS on Phase III Water Restrictions
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(CBS4)
Using restrictions in place in other parts of the state as a model, water managers are meeting Monday to discuss implementing year round restrictions for all of South Florida.
"The Governing Board wants to promote wise and efficient use of water," said South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann.
The mandatory measures, currently in place in Lee and Collier counties, reduce landscape watering to just three days per week and only during the morning and evening hours when less water is lost to evaporation.
Monday, water managers will hold public workshops in both Miami Dade and Broward counties to talk about year round restrictions.
"I'm not in favor of that," said Carol Rossma, "cause we had a problem in Dallas with the drought, and we can't keep our lawns and our shrubs and everything watered."
Following 5 public workshops of this nature, a preliminary draft of the new rules will be reviewed by the SFWMD's Resources Council July 5th. If approved, the full board will vote on them July 12th.
"This water shortage has taught us all critical lessons about the limitations of our water resources," added Carol Ann Wehle, executive director of the SFWMD. "We have also learned more about the benefits of individual water conservation, and that with moderate rainfall our lawns can survive and thrive on as little as once-a-week watering. These measures represent a responsible water use ethic, while providing for the protection of our citizens' economic investment in their landscapes."
Under measures currently in place in Lee and Collier counties, landscape watering is permitted before 10:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays for homes and businesses with odd street addresses. Even addresses are allowed to water their lawns during the same times on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
The SFWMD estimates following a year round restriction rule may help to reduce overall water demand by 5 to 5 percent.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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