community water counselor reference guide · this community water counselor workshop was hosted by...

CommunityWaterCounselor

Reference Guide

This Community Water Counselor Workshopwas hosted by

If a disabled individual wishes to obtain the information contained in this document in another form, please contact theDistrict’s Communications and Community Affairs Department at (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476 (Florida only),

extension 4757; TDD only: 1-800-231-6103 (Florida only); fax number: (352) 754-6883/Suncom 663-6883.

Printed OnRecycled Paper

The Community Water Counselor Reference Guide is produced bythe Southwest Florida Water Management District.

If you have questions or comments,please call the District at 1-800-423-1476 (Florida only)

or (352) 796-7211, extension 4776.http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Section 1. ...................... Page

Introduction to Florida’s Water World......... 1-1

The Hydrologic Cycle .................................. 1-2

Natural Water Sources ................................. 1-3The Aquifer .......................................... 1-4Surface Water Sources ........................... 1-5

Area Water Sources ...................................... 1-6

Alternative Water Sources ............................ 1-8Reuse ..................................................... 1-8Desalination........................................... 1-8Conservation ......................................... 1-9

Section 2. ...................... Page

Indoor Water Efficiency Techniques ............. 2-1

Reading Your Water Meter ........................... 2-4

Toilets .......................................................... 2-5Installing a new toilet ............................. 2-6Checking for a leaky toilet ..................... 2-7Repairing a leaky toilet ........................... 2-7Water-saving modifications .................... 2-8

Showerheads ................................................ 2-9Checking low-rate .................................. 2-9Installing a low-flow showerhead............ 2-9Installing an on-off valve ...................... 2-10

Faucets ....................................................... 2-11Repairing a ball faucet .......................... 2-12Repairing a ceramic disc faucet ............ 2-12Repairing a cartridge faucet .................. 2-13Using aerators to reduce flow ............... 2-13

Other Household Water Uses ..................... 2-14

Finding Other Leaks .................................. 2-14

Reading Your Water Bill ............................. 2-14

Section 3. ...................... Page

Out Door Water Efficiency Techniques ........ 3-1

Water Restrictions ........................................ 3-2

Water Efficient Landscaping ........................ 3-5The Seven Principles of Xeriscape .......... 3-5

Irrigation Systems ...................................... 3-13Irrigation System Components ............ 3-13

Maintaining Irrigation Systems .................. 3-14Visual Inspection Steps ........................ 3-14Visual Inspections Checklist ................. 3-18Rain Shut-off Device ........................... 3-19Catch Can Test .................................... 3-19Adjusting the System ........................... 3-21

Low-Volume Irrigation Systems ................. 3-21

Rain Barrels ............................................... 3-22

Pools and Spas ........................................... 3-23

Section 4. ...................... Page

Helping Your Community ........................... 4-1

Section 5. ...................... Page

Internet Sites ................................................ 5-1

Section 1:

Introduction toFlorida’s Water World

Introduction to Florida’s Water World

Section 1

The Community WaterCounselor program

is designed to help you:

� Understand where your water comes fromand the impact of humans on the waterresource;

� Evaluate your current water use, bothinside and outside of your home;

� Determine which water conservationtechniques are best for your situation;

� Implement those conservationpractices;

� Monitor and track your before andafter water use; and,

� Share this knowledge with yourneighbors.

Florida’s Water Resources

We all know how important water is for our dailylives. But imagine for a moment, a day in which youuse no water. That means no shower, no flushingthe toilet and no drinking. This simple substance —just three molecules — makes life on Earth possible.Without water, we could not live more than 3 days!

The goal of this section is to increase your knowledgeof:

� Where your water comes from;� Influences on the water resource;� Why we all need to conserve water.

Meeting today’s water needs can be a challenge — achallenge for government agencies who provide water;for people and businesses who use water; and achallenge for the environment which provides ourwater. Most of us realize this and we try to do our bestto conserve or reduce the amount of water we use.Conservation is one thing that we all can do to help.

The goal of the Community Water Counselorprogram is to give you the knowledge and hands-onexperience to implement various conservationtechniques in your home and to help your neighborsimplement techniques in their homes. If we allconserve water, we can further help the environmentmeet the challenge of supplying our water.

A study conducted by the American Water WorksAssociation of home water use in Tampa revealedhow water is used:

One household can make a difference. If eachhousehold in a neighborhood saves 30 to 40 gallonsper day — the conservation adds up and can make asignificant, positive impact on our water use and onthe environment.

1-1

Outdoor 29.9%

Indoor 67.5%

Other 2.6%


Section 1

3. Condensation: As this vapor cools, the moleculesmove closer together, forming visible moisture,such as clouds or fog.

4. Precipitation: When condensation cools evenmore, it forms the liquid we know as water. Thiswater returns to earth in both liquid (rain) andsolid forms (snow and hail).

5. Percolation: Precipitation collects in lakes orrivers, waters the soil and plants, and soaks throughthe soil to become underground water.

Because each part of the process is connected to oneanother, it really has no beginning or end. No water isgained or lost, but what is available at any given timefor human use fluctuates widely, depending ongeographic and climatic conditions.

The Hydrologic Cycle: How Nature Provides Water

The earth’s water travels through a continuousprocess known as the hydrologic cycle. Multipleactions through the cycle allow the replenishmentof water to the sky, sea and earth.

These are the major parts of the cycle:

1. Evaporation: The sun’s energy warms the earth’ssurface waters, such as oceans, rivers, lakes andstreams. As the water molecules heat up, they moveapart and the water becomes a vapor, rising intothe atmosphere.

2. Transpiration: The sun’s heat also causes plants torelease water vapor into the air.

1-2

Condensation

SolarEnergy

Aquifer

Percolation

RunoffEvaporation

Lake

Transpiration

Precipitation

The Hydrologic Cycle


Section 1

Natural Water Sources

Nature provides water in two ways: surface water(rivers, lakes and the sea), and ground water (from theaquifer). At first glance, these two may appear to beseparate. However, in many areas the strongrelationship connects the two. Reductions inunderground water can affect surface water levels andquality several miles away. For example, in some areas,lake levels are a direct reflection of underground waterlevels. If the water level in an aquifer supporting a lakedrops due to low rainfall or pumping, lake levels canfall as well. Remember though, lakes naturallyfluctuate and may drop for many other reasons.Underground water also provides the base flow ofstreams from springs. Reduced flow in rivers cancause an increase in salinity levels in estuaries, whichaffect plants, fish, and ultimately, humans.

Two other concepts that influence our waterresources are watersheds and ecosystems.

Watersheds, or drainage basins, are natural drainagenetworks that carry rainwater from backyards, parkinglots and streets into rivers, lakes and streams in aparticular area. Humans can have a profound effect onwatersheds when we build and pave large areas. Thesesurfaces do not allow water to soak into the ground.Stormwater that runs off these impermeable surfacescan carry trash, chemicals and other pollutants intowaterways, affecting water quality and impacting thehydrologic cycle.

An ecosystem is the relationship between living things(plants, animals and other organisms) and theenvironment (sunlight, air, water and soil). All partsmust work together to maintain a healthy balance.Aquatic ecosystems include oceans, lakes, rivers,streams, estuaries and wetlands. These are sensitivesystems which can be significantly altered by changessuch as pumping water, discharging pollutants, andintroducing exotic species of plants, animals andinsects.

Watershed

1-3


Section 1

NORTH

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Top of HighlyPermeable Zone

Top of IntergranularEvaporites

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SURFICIALAQUIFER

UPPER FLORIDAN AQUIFER

INTERMEDIATE AQUIFERConfiningBed

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sbor

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Riv

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laco

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iver

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Verticle Scale Greatly Exaggerated

KILOMETERS

MILES0

0 10

10

20

20

30

30

Aquifers:The Underground Source

Most of Florida’s drinking water comes from aquifers— saturated sedimentary layers below the earth’ssurface that can hold large quantities of water. Theselayers may be rock, sand, gravel or a mixture of these.Our aquifers are primarily limestone or limestone-dolomite mixtures, containing many cracks andenlarged pores allowing water to move easily throughthe rock. Water from aquifers is referred to as groundwater and provides more than 80 percent of all waterused in the Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict’s area.

Aquifers can be thought of as underground rivers.Water flows into them and water flows out of them.They are not stagnant reservoirs. But, compared torivers, the water moves very slowly, usually, slowerthan a snail’s pace. Aquifers are said to “recharge”when water percolates, or filters down from the land

surface, into the aquifer. The first aquifer to berecharged is usually the unconfined water table aquiferlying near land surface. Some aquifers are called“confined” because they are capped above by a layer ofclay or very dense rock. These aquifers are moredifficult to recharge as water flows into them onlywhere the aquifer comes near the surface or theconfining layer is thin or absent.

Water discharges, or flows out of the aquifer, wherethe aquifer intercepts a coastline, or sometimes, at aspring, lake or stream. As ground water flows toward acoastline it encounters seawater. The fresh groundwater is forced up by the dense seawater and theground water is discharged through the sea floor.Beneath the Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict are as many as three aquifers. From top tobottom, they are the Surficial aquifer system, theIntermediate aquifer system and the Floridan aquifersystem.

Hydrologic Cross Section of theSouthwest Florida Water Management District

1-4


Section 1

The Surficial aquifer system is the unconfined aquifersystem lying just below the land’s surface. It generallyconsists of sands, marl, gravel and clay. This aquifer ishighly productive along the sand ridges of Polk andHighlands counties. Elsewhere, it is so thin that it isusually only adequate for limited landscape irrigationor livestock watering.

The Intermediate aquifer is absent in the northernpart of the District and very thin to absent in Polk andHillsborough counties. It gets thicker to the south ofHillsborough and Polk counties. This confined aquifermay be 500 feet thick in south Sarasota and Charlottecounties, and is a significant source of water forDeSoto, Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota counties.Water from this aquifer is frequently brackish (amixture of saltwater and freshwater) in the coastalareas or has a high mineral content and must betreated with a desalination process such as reverseosmosis, before drinking.

The Floridan aquifer is one of the most productiveaquifers in the world. The uppermost portion of thisaquifer, the Upper Floridan aquifer, is up to 1,400 feetthick and provides 10 times the water of the other twoaquifers combined. Water quality in the lower portionof the Floridan aquifer is poor and unusable, due tohigh mineral content. The aquifer is confined in thesouth and central portions of the Southwest FloridaWater Management District. In the north, the aquiferis so close to land surface that it is easily recharged byrainfall. This also makes it very susceptible tocontamination from surface sources and stormwaterrunoff.

Surface Water Sources

Although there are more than 1,800 lakes measuring10 acres or larger within the District, they account fora very small amount of the public water supply. Lakesare easily affected by rainfall and other factors, butare still important sources for domestic, smallagricultural and industrial uses.

1-5

Source: ......................... Hillsborough River

Area Served: ..........................City of Tampa

Permitted Withdrawal:........... 62.0 million gallons per day (mgd)

Creeks and Rivers withinthe District

used for Public Water Supplies:

Source: ................................. Manatee River

Area Served: ......................Manatee County

Permitted Withdrawal: ................. 34.9 mgd

Source: ................................... Braden River

Area Served: ................... City of Bradenton

Permitted Withdrawal: ................... 5.6 mgd

Source: ............ Myakkahatchee/Big Slough

Area Served: ...................City of North Port


Source: ...................................... Shell Creek

Area Served: ............................ Punta Gorda


Source: ...................................... Peace River

Area Served: ... Charlotte, DeSoto, SarasotaCounties, City of North Port

Permitted Withdrawal: ................. 32.7 mgd


Section 1

3. Water Supply AuthoritiesA voluntary cooperation exists between local and/or county governments to manage water resources.Different cooperative counties and cities worktogether to ensure that a particular region hasenough quality water for all its users. Theygenerally own wellfields where they can pumplarge quantities of water out for their membergovernments and may also hold permits fromSWFWMD to withdraw certain quantities ofwater from surface water sources, such as lakes orrivers.

• WithlacoocheeRegional Water Supply AuthorityProvides water to the water utilities of Citrus,Hernando and Sumter counties.

• Tampa Bay WaterProvides water to the water utilities ofHillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties,and the cities of New Port Richey, Tampa andSt. Petersburg.

• Peace River/ManasotaRegional Water Supply AuthorityProvides water to the water utilities ofCharlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasotacounties.

4. Your Local Water Utility

Water utilities generally receive water suppliesthrough a system of pipes from regional wellfields.They also may directly receive supplies fromsurface water sources. After cleaning the water,utilities then provide it to customers through asystem of pipes to homes or businesses. They aregenerally owned by the local government toprovide the public with a basic need.

Area Water Sources:Where Your Water Comes From

Before discussing where your water comes from, it willbe helpful to understand the roles of the variousagencies involved in managing the water as it comes toyour home:

1. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)The state agency responsible for protecting all ofFlorida’s natural resources. It works in cooperationwith the water management districts to ensure thatthe state’s water resources are managed effectively.

2. Southwest Florida Water Management District(SWFWMD) One of five water management districtsin the state, SWFWMD is responsible for managingand protecting water resources in west central Florida.The District coordinates with local governments tosolve water problems. Because SWFWMD serves aregulatory function, it does not supply water to people— this is accomplished by water supply authoritiesand water utilities.

1-6


Section 11-7

The Water We Use

In 1995, an average of approximately 1.51 billiongallons of freshwater was used each day within the16 counties that make up the Southwest FloridaWater Management District. Approximately 80percent of this came from groundwater sources.

In some regions of the District, groundwaterpumping, combined with drainage modifications,has resulted in several adverse effects such assaltwater intrusion into the aquifer along the coast,and reduced flow or levels in springs, lakes andwetlands.

If we are to meet tomorrow’s water needs, includingthe needs of the environment, other sources of waterneed to be developed.

Alternative Water Sources

Reuse

The use of reclaimed wastewater or reuse isstrongly encouraged. Reuse projects conserve waterby replacing potable (drinkable) water used fornon-potable purposes with reclaimed water.Reclaimed water can be used for many agriculturaland urban irrigation needs, fire fighting, and manyindustrial purposes.

During the past 10 years, Florida rapidly became anational leader in reuse of reclaimed water. InDEP’s 1996 Reuse Inventory, about 400 reusesystems state-wide were identified, using about400 million gallons of reclaimed water forbeneficial purposes. By the year 2020, reuse flowsare expected to increase to about 720 milliongallons per day.

1995 (mgd) 2020 (mgd)Water Use

638.0Public Supply

(i.e.: City or County)

88.8 149.6Shallow

Private Wells

684.7 850.0Agricultural

10.2 61.8Power

Generation

428.1

Mining,Industrial,

Commercial226.8 196.0

66.5 109.2Recreational

(i.e.: Golf Courses)

1,505.1 2,004.6Total


Section 1

10.39Sarasota 22

1.02Sumter 3

128.37Total 176

Lake(No WWTPs

within SWFWMDboundaries)

0.25Levy 1

10.46Manatee 5

0.59Marion 6

10.48Pasco 24

41.81Pinellas 19

18.25Polk 31

5.04Charlotte 12

2.61Citrus 8

0.26DeSoto 3

0.48Hardee 4

3.99Hernando 11

1.93Highlands 7

20.81Hillsborough 20

1-8

Working in partnership with local governmentsto develop reclaimed water systems, theSWFWMD provides financial assistance throughits Cooperative Funding and New Water SourcesInitiative programs.

As a testimony to the success of Florida’s reuseprogram, the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency honored Florida’s program with the 1993and 1996 Municipal Water Use Efficiency Awardsin the Most Effective and Innovative LegislativeReview and Proposal Category. Reflecting theirexcellence, Florida’s reuse rules figure prominentlyin the development of national reuse guidelines.

Desalination

Desalination is a general term for a number of watertreatment processes that remove minerals and otherdissolved solids, including salt, from seawater orgroundwater. Some of these processes include reverse-osmosis, electrodialysis and membrane softening.Desalination currently plays only a minor role inpublic water supply within the Southwest FloridaWater Management District. Though 18 desalinationplants exist in the District, their combined productioncapacity is only approximately 20 mgd.

Waste WaterTreatment

Plants

Reuse Flow(mgd)County

Pretreatment

100 million gallonsof water

High PressurePump

Concentrated Discharge

SyntheticMembrane

RO DesalinationMembranes

40 million gallons ofdrinking water piped intoregular distribution system

1,500 PSI

DesalinationReverse Osmosis Process

For 1997


Section 1

Sarasota 12.0Sarasota County

Port Charlotte 0.36Southern States / Burnt Store Utilities

Harbor Heights 0.45Charlotte Harbor Water Association

Venice 0.5The Plantation

Rotunda 0.5Rotunda West Utilities

Sarasota 0.5Englewood Water District

Wauchula 0.95City of Wauchula

Venice 1.0Venice Gardens Utility Corp.

Englewood 2.5Englewood Water District RO Plant

Venice 4.0City of Venice

Sarasota 4.5City of Sarasota

Dunedin 7.5City of Dunedin

Nokomis 0.1Spanish Lakes MHP

Sarasota 0.1Camelot Lakes

Sarasota 0.131Sun ‘n Fun Resort Inc.

Englewood 0.2Gasparilla Pines

Sarasota 0.25Southbay Utilities

Nokomis 0.25Sorrento Utilities

Conservation

While not a water “source” in the traditional sense,conservation practices do result in water savings whichreduces stress on environmental systems and helps toextend current, traditional water supplies.

The District works with local governments andorganizations to encourage a variety of conservationmethods, from toilet rebate programs and retrofit kitdistribution, to enforcement of outdoor water userestrictions. Significant programs are under way toeducate the public, business and industrialcommunities about ways to conserve.

It Takes All of Us

The water we use ultimately comes from one source— rainfall — recharging the aquifer and adding tosurface flows. Groundwater continues to be the mainsource we turn to, and current demands and withdrawalshave already stretched the supply in some areas.

Increasing the number of water sources we use —ground and surface water, reuse, desalination,conservation and other alternative sources — will helpmeet current and future needs, while protecting theenvironment that provides us with water.

Conservation — reducing the amount of water weeach use — is something we all can do to help.

1-9

Service Area Capacity in MGDUtility

Desalination Plants, Locations and Capacities

Section 2:

IndoorWater Efficiency Techniques

Indoor Water Efficiency Techniques

Section 2

The goal of this section is to:

� Increase your knowledge of how you usewater indoors;

� Identify if your fixtures are using watermost efficiently; and,

� Help you develop an action plan to makeyour house as water efficient as possible.

In the Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict, daily water use averages 128 gallons perperson. With a population of more than 3.5 millionpeople, that’s over 448 million gallons of water everyday, and that does not include industrial, agriculturalor other water uses!

Of the 128 gallons of water the average person uses,a little more than half is used inside the house foreverything from washing dishes and clothes, to takingshowers and baths, to flushing the toilet.

If you can become just a little more water efficient andreduce your water use by even 10 percent — that’sabout 13 gallons per day — you can make a differencein helping to protect the water resource and theenvironment. If everyone had a low-flow toilet, ortook shorter showers, or fixed all the leaky toilets andfaucets, we could save more than 44 million gallons ofwater everyday — that’s about 35-40 percent of thewater that either Hillsborough or Pinellas counties usedaily.

The purpose of this section is to help you, your familyand your neighbors become more water efficient byunderstanding indoor water use and actions that canbe taken to increase efficiency.

The flow chart on the next page will guide youthrough the steps to identifying if your fixtures areusing water most efficiently. Knowing this, you candevelop an action plan to make your house morewater efficient. Along the way, you will becomemore aware of how you use water, and throughthis awareness you will start doing other things toconserve water. Page numbers in the flow chartrefer to sections in this chapter that discuss thatactivity.

2-1


Section 2 2-2

Change toultra low flow

toilet?

Will you or a plumberinstall?

Call your plumberand enjoy the

savings. *Checkwith your localutility for toiletrebate program.

Check for leaks.Consider a

displacement bagor variable

bouyancy flapper.pg 2-7 & 2-8

Routinely conducta dye tablet test

and properlymaintain.

pg 2-7

Read yourmeter to check

for unseen leaks.pg 2-14

Read your water bill andtrack family water use.

If you’ve done everythingabove, watch your wateruse go down and your

savings go up.pg 2-14

Great!

Alright!see pg 2-6

Install a lowflow head.

pg 2-9

Install andon / off valve.

pg 2-10

Check otherwater using

fixtures for leaksand efficiency.

pg 2-14

Check flowrate. Install

proper aerator.pg 2-13

Buy repair kitand install

pg 2-12

Read yourwater meter.

pg 2-4

Does yours use 1.6gpf or less?

pg 2-5

Toilets

Does yours use morethan 3 gpm?

pg 2-9

Showerheads

Do any leak?pg 2-11

Faucets

IndoorEfficiency

NO NO

NO

ME

YES NOYES YES

YES

PLUMBER


Section 22-3

�A standard washing machine uses anaverage of 50 gallons per load.

�A front-loading (or “H-axis”) washingmachine uses about 25 percent lesswater.

�Toilets produced prior to 1994 use 3.5to 7 gallons or more per flush, but newultra-low volume toilets use 1.6 gallonsor less per flush.

�A dishwasher uses 10 to 15 gallons perload, but a dishwasher with a water-saverfunction saves 10 to 20 percent.

�Washing and rinsing dishes with taprunning uses up to 3 to 5 gallons perminute, but washing and rinsing dishes ina filled sink uses 5 to 10 gallons total.

Did You Know?

�Running the garbage disposal uses 3 to 5gallons a minute, versus using dirtydishwater to run the disposal or throwingdebris in trash or compost pile.

�A bathroom faucet uses up to 5 gallonsper minute.

�A standard shower head delivers 5 to 8gallons a minute, but a low-flow showerhead only delivers 1.5 to 2.5 gallons aminute

�Washing a car with running water froman open-ended hose for 20 minutes uses100 to 200 gallons, but washing a carwith a pistol-grip shutoff uses 15 to 30gallons.

�An uncovered pool loses between 900 to3,000 gallons of water a month toevaporation, whereas a covered pool, cutswater loss by up to 90 percent.


Section 2

help you see the fruits of your water-efficiency labor.Here’s how:

A. Most residential water meters arelocated in a covered box in the groundnear the street. The meter shows the totalamount of water used since it wasinstalled. The measurement is either incubic feet or in gallons (1 cubic foot =7.48 gallons).

B. There are two types of meters:

1. Straight reading meters are thesimplest to read since it shows onlyone number like a car odometer.

2. Round reading meters read like aclock with some of the dials turningcounterclockwise. Check the numbersto determine the direction of theturning dial. Start with the highestnumbered dial (100,000) then the next(10,000) then the next (1,000) untilyou have read all dials. Add thesenumbers together to determine thecurrent reading.

Conducting aHome Water Audit

How much water do you use? If the fixtures inyour house are not low-flow or water-savingdevices, use these figures to estimate the amount ofwater used daily in your household:

Toilet flush ................................. 3.5 gallonsOld toilets maybe as high as ........ 5-7 gallonsFull bathtub ................................60 gallonsAutomatic dishwasher cycle .....10-15 gallonsWashing machine cycle ... 50 gallons (average)Washing dishes by hand ... 15 gallons per day

Fixing leaks and installing a few inexpensive water-saving devices in your home could save you morethan 30,000 gallons of water each year. And, if youuse city or county water, your efforts could reduceyour monthly water and wastewater billsignificantly.

Unless your house was built in the last few years orrecent fixture replacements have occurred, youprobably have pre-conservation era plumbing thatguzzles water. Retrofitting your home — fixingleaks and replacing old plumbing fixtures with newwater-saving ones — is a simple and easy way toprotect our drinking water supply and, at the sametime, save money.

Most retrofit devices will reduce your water andwastewater bill enough to pay for themselveswithin 2 to 3 years.

Reading your water meter

The best method to determine household wateruse is to look at your water meter. By reading themeter, you can calculate daily usage, individualappliance usage, as well as check for leaks withinyour home. Reading your meter before and aftermaking changes inside and outside your home will

2-4

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Section 2

C. To calculate daily usage: Read the meter atthe same time on two consecutive days.Next, subtract the first day’s number from thesecond. The difference will give you theamount of water your household used in oneday. To convert cubic feet to gallons per day,take this number and multiple by 7.48,which will give you the number of gallons perday. Now divide the total number of gallonsused in one day by the number of familymembers; this will give you the number ofgallons used per capita (person) per day(gpcd). How does this figure compare to theDistrictwide average of 128 gpcd?

D. To read how much one appliance or onewater activity uses, first turn off all waterinside the house. Note the meter reading.Start an appliance, take a shower, run thedishwasher or water the lawn. Whenfinished with the one activity, read themeter and subtract your first reading fromthe second. For cubic feet readings,multiply by 7.48, to determine thenumber of gallons.

E. To check for leaks, go around the houseand turn off all water (don’t forget the icemaker!). Then look at your water meterand check where the point of the dialneedle is located. Make a mark on the rimof the dial. Don’t run any water for 30minutes. Then check the meter. If theindicator has moved from your mark, youhave a leak. Some meters have a littletriangle which spins to show flow. Thismovement would be further evidence of aleak.

F. Your next task would be to track downyour leaks. The first culprit to check is thetoilet, using the dye method explained onpage 2-7. Next, inspect all faucets,including in the shower and outside.

Although you may have to call a professional to helpwith the invisible leaks in plumbing and pools, try totrack down the leak yourself by looking for wet spots,sinkholes, and cracks in walls. Pools are more likelyplaces for leaks than plumbing lines. Today, plumbersuse electronic leak detection devices, which can locaterunning water through several feet of concrete.

Toilets

Toilet use accounts for about 35 percent of your totalindoor water usage and about half of the water usedwithin the bathroom. So having a water-efficient toiletcan help to save a significant amount of water.

A leaky toilet can waste 40 gallons of water or more aday! In the course of a month, that means more than a1,000 gallons of water goes unused down the drain.Properly maintaining a toilet is the first and mostimportant thing you can do to make your bathroommore water efficient.

How much water does thetoilet use?Is it a low-flow toilet?

If your house was built after 1994, your toilet shouldbe a 1.6 gallon per flush (gpf) toilet. At that time, thefederal government required toilets be produced tomeet the 1.6 gpf standard. You may be able tell bylooking for a stamp or sticker (UPC or IAPMO)which indicates approval. Gallons per flush should beprinted in the tank.

If you are unable to tell the gallons per flush bylooking at the toilet, use a measuring tape to estimatethe tank volume. Using the figures below, determinewhat type of toilet you have:

53 inches in circumference = approximately 3.5 gpf63 inches in circumference = approximately 5 gpf79 inches in circumference = approximately 7+ gpf

2-5


Section 2

Yes, it is a low-flow toilet

Great! The best thing you can do is simply maintainthe toilet. The 1.5 or 1.6 gpf toilet is the lowest-volume toilet widely available on the market at thistime. Any further modifications (a displacement bagor variable-buoyancy flapper) will reduce the waterflow too much and you would probably have to flushtwice to remove any waste.

Conduct a dye-tablet test to check for internal leaks.See Page 2-7 to conduct the test.

No, it is not a low-flow toilet

If your toilet is older and uses more than 1.6 gpf,you have two options:

1. Replace the old toilet with a new ultra-low flow (ULF) toilet, or

2. Modify the old toilet so that it uses lesswater.

You’ll cut your water use the most by installing anewer version of the low-flush toilet. Older toilets canuse 3.5 gallons or more per flush. Installing a newultra-low volume toilet which uses 1.6 gallons can saveup to 15 percent of total indoor water consumption.

New low-volume toilets are completely re-engineered.They have steeper bowl sides, shallower traps, smallersiphon outlets and 3.5-gallon tanks that release only1.6 gallons per flush with 3.5 gallons of force andpressure. With these changes, they perform better thanmany units using twice the water. These new toiletsmust conform with the stricter 1990 AmericanNational Standards Institute hydraulic performancestandard. This standard covers bowl cleaning, removalof solids and drain-line carry over a distance of 40 feet.

Having a plumber installa new ultra-low flow toilet

Contact your plumber and have them replace yourtoilet with a 1.6 gpf ULF toilet.

Some local governments offer rebates for purchasingand installing a new ultra low-volume toilet. Checkwith your utility to see if they offer such a rebate.

Be sure to ask your plumber about regularmaintenance procedures for your new toilet.

Installing a new ULF toiletyourself

Before installing new toilets in older houses, check the“rough-in dimension” — the distance between theback wall studs and the center of the drain hub. Toiletsare designed with different rough-ins. This dimensionwill determine how far from the wall the toilet will sit.

Replacing a toilet requires an adjustable wrench, ascrewdriver, new toilet and new wax ring, and grout.You may need or want to replace the water supplylines. Follow these three steps:

A. Close the supply valve. Flush the toilet, unscrewsupply line and hold-down nuts. Remove lid tolessen weight and remove toilet.

2-6


Section 2

B. Remove old wax ring and old putty. Set new ringover toilet horn or drain flange as shown here.The wax ring provides a watertight seal andprevents gasses from the drain from escaping.

C. Apply grout where the toilet meets floor to give it afinished look. Smooth the grout bead with a wetfinger. Re-connect the supply line, fill the tankand flush to test.

Smaller toilets often do not fill an older toilet’s “footprint.” There are devices — sometimes called a “toiletshoe” — to fix this aesthetically. Check with yourhardware or home store.

Checking for a leaky toilet(dye tablet test)

To check your toilet for leaks, remove the lid from thetoilet tank, remove any colored cleaning agent, flushto clear water in the bowl, then drop one leak-detecting dye tablet (or five drops of food coloring)into the tank and wait 15 minutes. If colored waterappears in the toilet bowl without additional flushing,there is a leak.

Repairing a leaky toilet

Fixing a leaky toilet is one of the easiest and mostimportant things you can do to conserve water in yourhome. If your toilet has the smallest of leaks, it couldlet 40 or more gallons a day go down the drain.

To fix the leak yourself, you will need a largeadjustable wrench and a screwdriver. Now, followthese steps which begin with the most common andeasy solutions to the more involved:

A. Jiggle the handle. If that makes the toilet stoprunning, the chain or guide wire attached tothe handle may be out of alignment or kinked.

Make sure the handle fits snugly against thetank. If it doesn’t, use the adjustable wrench totighten the nut attached to the handle on theinside of the tank. The nut on the handletightens and loosens in the opposite directionof normal nuts.

B. Check the rubber flapper or flush valve at thebottom of the tank. It may not be reseatingtightly after flushing. If it is worn or corroded,it needs to be replaced. If you touch the

2-7

Discharge pipe

Spud washer

Locknut

Valve seat

Tank ballLower lift wire

Guide arm

Overflow tube

Upper lift wire

Float armFloat

Waterinletpipe

Ballcockvalve

Bowlrefilltube

Tankfillertube

Lift armFlush handle

Water supplyline

Locknut

Shutoffvalve


Section 2

Water-saving modifications

If you choose to keep an older toilet using 3.5 gallonsper flush or more, you can still reduce the water it usesby making some modifications. If you already have aULF toilet, making further efficiency modifications isnot recommended, because the toilet will not flushefficiently.

A. A displacement bag can save about 1 gallon perflush, helping lower your water use.

Fill either a displacement bag or a plastic milk/sodabottle with water and place it inside the tankbetween the tank wall and the intake valve. Be sureto install it so that it does not touch or interferewith any of the toilet’s mechanisms. Be sure tocheck it regularly, since loose objects inside a toilettank tend to move around. Easy-to-installdisplacement bags are available at most hardware,plumbing and home stores. Check with your localutility — they may have some available free ofcharge. However, if you have to flush more thanonce, a different retrofit mechanism may be yournext step.

B. Variable-buoyancy flappers and flap actuatorsthat ride on the overflow tube will greatlyincrease the efficiency of your existing toilet.These devices are designed to make the flapperclose before all the water rushes from the tankinto the bowl, but the water that does rushthough still moves with its original full force. Ifsuch a device is put into a 5-gallon toilet andadjusted to save 2 gallons, all 5 gallons are stillmoving downward once flushing is started, butthe flap will close while 2 gallons still remain inthe tank. These can be found at hardware andhome stores.

C. Dual-handle mechanisms work in a similarway, but they give you a choice. They still letyou use the full flush with one handle, but havea second handle that releases up to 75 percentless water — but this is still enough force tocarry away liquid waste.

flapper and black rubber residue comes off, theflapper is corroded. Look at the surface and edgesof the flapper; if it is warped or disfigured, it needsto be replaced. Replacement kits with easy-to-follow instructions are available at most hardwareand home stores.

Note: It is critical that you purchase the correctreplacement flapper for your toilet. If you don’t, theflapper will not seat properly, and your 1.6 gpftoilet will become a 3.5 gpf toilet by continuing toleak. You may want to take the old flapper withyou to the store to ensure you buy the correctreplacement.

Also, check to see if the valve seat is rough, scaled,or corroded. If it is, dry it with a cloth and smoothit with sand paper. With the new stopper installed,turn the water shutoff valve back on, fill the tankand repeat the dye check.

C. Make sure the float arm is screwed tightly intothe ball cock assembly which joins to the inletpipe. Tighten if necessary.

D.Next, check to see if the float ball is riding toohigh for a good tank water level. The correctwater level is about 1/2 to 1 inch below the topof the overflow tube in the tank. The overflowtube drains directly into your waste watersystem. To lower the water level, use the screwdriver to adjust the screw on the end ofballcock float arm or bend the float arm downuntil the correct water level is achieved. Thefloat ball should shut off the inlet valve soonerand with more force. If the water doesn’t shutoff, replace both the flapper and the ballcock.

E. If these simple procedures don’t stop the leak,you should call your plumber.

2-8


Section 2

10

15

20

24

30

If the jug fills in less than 24 seconds, yourshowerhead uses more than 2.5 gpm. Replacing itwith a more efficient showerhead will not only saveyou money on your water bill, but will also save youthe cost of heating water that is wasted.

Installing a low-flowshowerhead

If your showerhead’s flow rate is greater than 2.5 gpm,you should consider changing it to a low-flow model.

Gather the following supplies: an adjustablewrench or pliers, joint sealer or teflon tape, and alow-flow showerhead of your choice.

Note: some showerheads may require an adapterin order for the new low flow head to fit onto theexisting plumbing.

A. Shut off the water supply to the showerhead;this is usually the faucet knob you use to turn

Proper maintenance

Properly maintaining a toilet is the most importantway to keep your bathroom water efficient. Listen forrunning water when the toilet hasn’t been flushedrecently. Conduct a dye tablet test (page 2-7) if yoususpect the toilet may be leaking and follow the stepsto maintain the toilet.

Showerheads

Showers and baths account for about 30 percent ofthe water use within your bathroom. Today’s low-flowshowerheads have a rate of flow of about 1.5 gallonsper minute (gpm); older showerheads flow at a rate of3 gpm or more. By replacing your showerhead, youcan make a huge difference in the amount of wateryou and your family use.

The first thing you need to do with your showerheadis find out its flow rate.

Check the showerhead’sflow rate

The easiest way to save water in the shower is to install alow-flow shower head which reduces maximum flow toless than 2.5 gallons per minute, depending on headdesign and your water pressure.

To check the flow rate of the existing showerhead:

A. Take a one-gallon jug and cut a piece out ofthe top so that the showerhead fits inside;

B. Turn the shower on all the way and time howlong it takes to fill the jug. (After the test, usethe water in the jug to water a plant.)

Seconds to fill jugFlow

(gallons per minute / gpm)

6.0

4.0

3.0

2.5

2

2-9


Section 2

the shower on and off. Use the adjustablewrench to remove the old showerhead

B. Clean the threads to remove old joint sealeror tape.

C. Apply new joint sealer or tape, using packageinstructions. Use adjustable wrench to installnew showerhead.

Tip: Use a cloth between the new showerheadand the jaws of the wrench to avoid scratchingyour new fixture.

D.Turn water supply back on and check for leaksaround the showerhead.

Installing an on-off valve

Water-saving hardware also includes shutoff valves.These valves can and should be used even with low-flow showerheads.

An easily accessible on-off valve near the shower headallows a person in the shower to shut off water whilesoaping, shampooing, or shaving. If about half ofyour shower time is spent soaping, shampooing, orshaving, shutting off the water while you do thosethings would significantly save water and the energyneeded to heat it.

2-10


Section 2

Valves are designed to dribble when closed, so water inthe pipe stays at the selected temperature and doesn’tblast the person in the shower with a cold streamwhen turning the valve back on. These valves are builtinto many low-flow heads. Models include push-button valves and different kinds of twist levers.

Shutoff valves are also available for sinks.

The steps for installing an on-off valve are basically thesame as for installing a low-flow showerhead:

A. Gather the following supplies: an adjustablewrench or pliers, joint sealer or teflon tape,andthe on-off valve of your choice.

Note: some on-off valves may require an adapterin order to fit onto the existing piping.

B. Shut off the water supply to the showerhead;this is usually the faucet knob you use to turnthe shower on and off.

C. Use the adjustable wrench to remove theshowerhead.

D. Clean the threads to remove old joint sealer ortape from the faucet.

E. Apply new joint sealer or tape, using packageinstructions.

F. Use adjustable wrench to install the on-offvalve.

Tip: Use a cloth between the new on-off valveand the jaws of the wrench to avoid scratchingyour new fixture.

2-11

G. Clean the threads to remove old joint sealer ortape from the showerhead.

H. Apply new joint sealer or tape, using packageinstructions.

I. Use adjustable wrench to re-install theshowerhead.

Tip: Use a cloth between the new on-off valve andthe jaws of the wrench to avoid scratching theshowerhead.

J. Turn water supply back on and check for leaks.

Faucets

A leaky faucet that drips one drop of water everysecond for a year wastes 2,700 gallons of water. And ifit is hot water faucet, you’re losing water and theenergy required to heat it. Leaky faucets are usuallycaused by a worn washer or ‘O’ ring.

To fix leaky faucets, you’ll need: an adjustable wrenchor pliers, a screwdriver, maybe a pair of needlenosepliers, and a repair kit for the specific faucet you aregoing to fix.

There are four types of faucet on-off mechanisms —ball and cartridge mechanisms are common; tippingvalves are the most common; and ceramic disc arenew. You will need the proper repair kit for thespecific type of faucet you are fixing. Faucet repair kitsare available at your hardware store. It will help toknow the brand name and model of the faucet you arerepairing.

The faucet repair kit you purchase will most likelyinclude instructions for your particular faucet-type.If not, here are the general procedures for three types ofmechanisms:


Section 2

A. Repairing a Ball Faucet

Tools required: Allen wrench, pliers

1. Turn off water supply.

2. Using Allen wrench, partly unthread setscrew (B), then pull off handle (A).

3. Unthread and remove cap assembly (C).

4. Remove ball and cam assembly (D) bypulling up on stem ball (E).

5. Remove spout (G) by pulling upward.

6. Remove worn spout “O” rings (F) andapply replacement “O” rings.

7. Reassemble spout (G) onto faucet body.

8. Check rubber seats and springs (H) forwear. If worn, replace with manufactureseats and springs.

9. Replace worn ball.

10.Reassemble faucet in reverse order.

B. Repairing a Ceramic Disc FaucetIn most cases, these are guaranteed for life.

Tools required: pliers


2. Remove handle.

3. Remove top dome-shaped cap (A) byunscrewing counter-clockwise.

4. Using pliers, unscrew the retaining ring(B).

5. Carefully remove cartridge assembly (C) bypulling straight up on stem with pliers.

2-12

B

A

C

G

E

F

D

A

B

C

D


Section 2

6. Install appropriate gasket (D) based onhandle type and replacement kitinstructions.

7. Install new cartridge assembly. Reassembleby reversing steps.

C. Repairing a Cartridge Faucet

Tools required: Pliers, Standard (flat-tipped) andPhillips (cross-tipped) screwdrivers.


2. Pry handle cover off.

3. Unscrew handle screw and remove handleknob and handle parts.

4. Pull out retainer clip with pliers.

5. Remove cartridge.

6. Pull stem of new cartridge to openposition. Insert new cartridge into faucetbody by pushing on cartridge “ears” (ifwater appears around stem when cartridgeis inserted, this is not a leak, this isnormal).

7. Align the cartridge ears with the slots inthe faucet body. Insert clip through thefaucet body slots, straddling the cartridgeears and into opposite faucet body slots.

8. Align notched flat on cartridge stemaccording to handle type andmanufacture’s instructions.

9. Replace handle according to handle typeand manufacture’s instructions.

Faucet aerators

Another way to reduce water use with your faucets isby using aerators. Start by checking the amount ofwater flowing from each faucet. You can do this byopening the faucet and allowing water to flow into acontainer for 10 seconds. Multiply the amount ofwater in the container by six to determine the perminute flow. If your existing aerator flows above 3gallons per minute, you should replace it with a low-flow aerator. This one simple step can save 3 to 5percent of your total indoor water bill.

In the kitchen, you will want a 2.5 gallon-per-minuteaerator to make sure the flow of water is enough towash and rinse dishes, and fill cooking containers. Youmay want to use a low-flow aerator with an on/off fliphandle that allows you to increase or reduce the flowas needed.

Your bathroom faucet is used primarily for rinsingtasks. Here, a 1.5 to 2 gallon-per-minute aerator willprovide enough water for shaving, hand washing andother personal hygiene tasks.

2-13

RetainingClip


Section 2

The steps to installing an aerator are:

A. Buy an aerator with the proper flow rate foryour use, and one that will fit the faucet. Youmay want to take the old one with you to thehardware store to ensure buying the correctsize.

B. Remove the old aerator; you may need awrench.

C. Screw in the new aerator.

Other household water uses

Washing MachinesReplacing your traditional washing machine whichspins upright or vertically, with a front-loading orhorizontal-axis (“H-axis”) machine can reducewater use by 30 to 60 percent.

Even if you don’t replace your machine, whenever youdo wash clothes be sure to wash full loads and adjustthe water level to fit the size of the load.

Dish WashersHere again, if you are getting a new machine, lookfor one that is water efficient. Otherwise, be sure towait until you have a full load before running thewasher and run it at the shortest cycle possible.

Sinks and TubsIf your kitchen sink’s stainer-basket stopper leaksas you’re doing the dishes, replace the rubberstopper on the bottom. Take the entire stopper toyour hardware store inorder to get the correctreplacement.

If your bathtub drainplug leaks as you’re bathing,tighten it up! A chain connecting the lever to theplug may have some slack in it, not allowing youto get a tight fit. Removing the lever cover willgive you access to tighten up the chain.

2-14

Finding other leaksin the home

Now that you have all the visible leaks fixed, check forthose that you don’t know about by reading yourwater meter, as explained on page 2-4 and make noteof the meter reading. Then turn off all water-usingfixtures in your home and don’t use any water for anhour. Now, go back and check the reading on themeter. If it has changed, you may have leaking pipesand will need a plumber to help you find and repairthem.

Reading your water bill

In the State of Florida, water belongs to everyone, andcan not be sold. On your water bill, what you pay foris the service to provide you with drinking water,sometimes called the “3 P’s” of water — purification,piping and pressure. You pay to have water piped intoyour home and that cost is based on the amount youuse. The cost for purification and pressure is built intothis amount. You also pay to have the wastewaterpiped out — unless, of course, you have a septicsystem. The more water you use, the more there is todispose of — and the higher your water andwastewater charges climb. (With a septic system, keepin mind there are inherent maintenance costs.)

Understanding your water bill — the meterreadings, number of service days, rate perthousand gallons, sewer charges — will help youbecome more aware of your water use. You willalso be able to monitor the effectiveness andmoney-savings of your conservation efforts.

Section 3:

OutdoorWater Efficiency Techniques

Outdoor Water Efficiency Techniques

Section 3

The goal of this section is to :

� Increase your awareness of how you usewater outdoors;

� Help you examine your landscape andirrigation methods to see if you can increaseyour water-use efficiency;

� Help you make future landscape decisionsthat will be water efficient decisions.

Statistics show that a little less than half of the waterthat goes to a home is used outdoors, primarily forlandscape irrigation. For this reason, heavy emphasis isplaced on efficient water use and conservationoutdoors.

3-1

Monitor YourWater Meter

pg 2-4

Regulary Checkand MaintainYour System

Do you plan torelandscape soon?

Landscape

Maintenance &Adjustment pg 3-14

XeriscapePrinciples

pg 3-5

Recommend youcomplete Xeriscape

Principle #1 bysketching yourexisting design.

Operating Your System Efficiently

__ Irrigation Audit Check List pg 3-14

__ Rain Shut-off Sensor pg 3-18

__ Catch Can Test pg 3-18

__ Adjustments pg 3-20

__ Low Volume Systems pg 3-20

__ Cisterns pg 3-22

1. Planning &Design

2. Turf Areas3. Soil

Improvements4. Efficient

Irrigation5. Mulches6. Plant Selection7. Maintenance

OutdoorEfficiency

WaterRestrictions

pg 3-2

Irrigation Systems

YES NO


Section 3

The water restrictions affect all water users. The mostwell-known part of the restrictions concern landscapeirrigation, prescribing the days and times people maywater their landscape. Other restrictions also apply tofarms, golf courses and other businesses. Theserestrictions have been in force since March 1992 forPasco County south to Charlotte County, and sinceDecember 1993 for Hernando County north toMarion County. Some form of the restrictions havebeen in effect since June 1977. The current District-wide water restrictions are on page 3-3.

Local governments can implement tighter restrictions,and many of them do. It is recommended that youcheck with your local water utility to find out if thereare any other watering restrictions you should beaware of. A list of local government restrictions alsostarts on page 3-3.

Local governments enforce landscape wateringrestrictions, while the District focuses its enforcementefforts on farms, golf courses and other large waterusers. Violations can include citations and fines.The days and times specified in the District’srestrictions are designed to be flexible enough to allowyou to give your landscape the water it needs.Although these restrictions provide 18 hours in whichto do watering on “allowable” days, most residentiallots can be watered in only four to six hours. The extrahours are intended to help larger properties (andpeople without automatic irrigation systems, especiallypeople who work second and third shift jobs).

Overwatering will damage your plants, reduce ourwater resources, and cost you money. Signs ofoverwatering include: dollar weed, root and leafdiseases, and thatch build up on lawns. Overuse ofchemicals to combat the signs of overwatering cancontribute to local lake and well water pollution aswell. Additionally, less frequent watering encouragesdeeper root development, leading to healthier turf.

3-2

“Rainy”June – September

“Dry”October – May

SeasonRainfall

inches (avg.)Percent

34.5 inches

18.5 inches

65%

35%

Water restrictions

Even though Florida receives an average of 53 inchesof rain annually, water supplies in the SouthwestFlorida Water Management District area have beenunder stress for several years. The District uses severalmanagement techniques to preserve our naturalresources, including: developing new, alternativesources of water in cooperation with public andprivate interests; and, promoting the use of common-sense habits and state-of-the-art conservationtechnologies. The implementation of water userestrictions is another management tool usedthroughout the District.

Florida has two hydrological seasons — the rainyseason (usually June through September) and the dryseason (October through May). Nearly 65 percent ofthe 53-inch annual rainfall (about 34.5 inches) occursduring the four-month rainy season. The remaining35 percent (or 18.5 inches) falls during the eight-month dry season. The drastic difference in rainfallbetween seasons can cause significant stress on theenvironment. With everyone conserving water, wecan reduce the human impact on the environment.

The restrictions, along with the other conservationmeasures, help as the District strives to strike abalance between meeting current and future waterneeds and protecting the natural resource.


Section 33-3

City of Tampa813-223-8663

Days: Same as District.

Hours:Irrigation prohibited 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

PASCO COUNTY

Unincorporated Pasco County813-847-8145


Hours:Irrigation allowed 5 to 9 a.m. and/or7 to 11 p.m.

Other:Watering in of insecticides, fungicides andherbicides shall only be done during allowabledays and hours.

Fountains prohibited unless using recycledwater.

No variances allowed.

City of New Port Richey727-841-4536


Hours:Irrigation allowed 5 to 9 a.m. and/or7 to 11 p.m.

Other:Watering in of insecticides, fungicides, andherbicides shall- only be done duringallowable days and hours.

Districtwide Restrictions(Modified Phase III*)

* Phase III of Chapter 40D-21 F.A.C. as modifiedby Board Orders 92-12, 92-21 and 92-60, orBoard Order SWF 93-105.

These District restrictions allow watering two daysa week according to address:

• odd addresses may irrigate Wednesday and/orSunday;

• even addresses, Tuesday and/or Saturday).

Watering is allowed from 12:01 a.m. to 10 a.m.and/or 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Handwatering of vegetable gardens, flower beds,trees and shrubs is allowed without regard to dayof week or time of day. Irrigation using reclaimedwater (highly treated wastewater effluent) orgeothermal unit discharge is allowed withoutregard to day of week or time of day. Car washingis allowed on any day, but any hose used for thispurpose must have an automatic shutoff nozzle.Additional restrictions and certain exemptionsapply.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

Unincorporated Hillsborough County813-272-5977


Hours:Irrigation prohibited 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.(Does not apply to the municipalities ofTampa, Plant City, and Temple Terrace)


Section 3

PINELLAS COUNTY

Pinellas County727-464-4520

Days: Same as District

Hours:Irrigation allowed 5 to 9 a.m.and 7 to 11 p.m.

Other:Applies to Pinellas County Water Systemcustomers except as indicated below; appliesto potable water only (wells and other watersources may follow District hours).

Town of Belleair727-584-7134

Days:Odd addresses may water Friday only; evenaddresses may water Tuesday only.


City of Belleair Bluffs727-581-6808

Days: Same as District


City of Clearwater727-462-6848

Ordinance generally follows Pinellas Countyor District restrictions (whichever is stricter).


Hours:Irrigation allowed 5 to 9 a.m. and/or

7 to 11 p.m.

Other:Unlike Pinellas County restrictions, thesehours also apply to wells and other watersources.

City of Dunedin727-734-4151

Days:Odd addresses may water Friday only; evenaddresses may water Tuesday only.

Hours:Irrigation prohibited from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;in-ground irrigation systems may only waterbetween 12:01 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Other:Vehicle washing is restricted to Saturday andSunday only; rinsing of boats and flushing ofboat motors is permitted for 10 minutes a dayfor each boat.

City of St. Petersburg727-893-7251


Hours: Irrigation allowed 5 to 9 a.m.and/or 7 to 11 p.m.

Hand watering and car washing are same asDistrict. (These restrictions also apply toprivate wells) Rinsing of boats and flushing ofboat motors is permitted for 10 minutes a dayfor each boat.

3-4


Section 3

Water-EfficientLandscaping

There are three parts to a water-efficient landscape —the landscape design itself, the irrigation system for theplants in the landscape, and the management of thelandscape and irrigation system.

So whether you have an automated irrigation systemor you water your plants manually, you can save waterby understanding your plants’ needs and yourequipment.

Landscape Design

If you are planning to landscape or re-landscape youryard, or you’ve been thinking about it, putting carefulthought into the design before you begin will pay youbig dividends — a water-efficient yard that you can beproud of.

Even if you are not planning any major re-landscapingprojects, understanding what a water-efficientlandscape is will help as you add to or adjust yourexisting design.

In Florida, when talking about landscaping the term“Xeriscape™” is often used and it is a very importantconcept to understand. Xeriscape is a form of qualitylandscaping that saves water and helps to protect theenvironment.

A Xeriscape landscape conserves water throughcreative, appropriate landscape design and watermanagement. The key words are “appropriate design”and “management,” since you can have the garden-look you want, while saving water. You can achievethis by implementing the seven principles ofXeriscape.

The Seven Principles ofXeriscape

1. Planning and Design

Of the seven principles, Planning and Design is acritical step to a successful landscape. Time spentdeveloping a good, detailed plan will payoff in thelong run. It will allow you to:

� Progress in phases, as your time and budgetallow;

� Avoid costly mistakes of buying too manyplants or plants that will not survive yoursite conditions or level of maintenance;

� Develop the beautiful landscape you want.A seven-step planning and design processstarts on the next page.

3-5


Section 3

STEP 1

CIS

TE

RN

CIS

TE

RN

N

W E

S

1' = 40'

1. Draw your lot to scale.2. Outline the house & garage.3. Add any permanent features.4. Check on landscaping requirements/restrictions.

Step 1

• Planning your Xeriscape is an important firststep. It will help you avoid costly mistakes andgive you a “road map” that will makecompleting your Xeriscape landscape mucheasier.

• Be sure to draw your plan to scale. It will saveyou time in the long run, because it will helpyou better estimate the amount of materialsneeded.

• Add all the permanent features you plan towork around: trees, driveways, buildings, etc.You will want to build them into your plan.

• Be sure you know local landscaperequirements and, if you live in a deed-restricted community, the neighborhoodrequirements. You want to plan somethingthat meets the requirements.

CIS

TE

RN

CIS

TE

RN

FOO

TTR

AF

FIC

FO

OT

TRAFFIC

N

WARM AFTERNOONSUN

UTILITY LINES

1. Take note of sun exposure.2. Locate utility lines.3. Be aware of traffic flow patterns.

STEP 2

Step 2

• Look to see which parts of your yard aresunny, partly sunny and shady. How does thatchange over the course of a day? Is it differentat different times of the year?

• In general, the southwest corner of your yardhas the potential to be a hot spot. Also, ourchilly winter winds usually blow from thenorthwest.

• When looking at utility lines, be sure to lookup and down. Digging up underground linescan be inconvenient, hazardous, illegal andcostly. Don’t plant trees or other plants thatwill interfere with overhead lines orunderground utilities.

• Don’t fight old habits. It’s easier to plan a pathor walkway where traffic flow patterns alreadyexist, than it is to redirect traffic.

3-6


Section 3

CIS

TE

RN

CIS

TE

RN

SLOPE

Maximize View

Dry Area

Dry

Are

a

Min

imize V

iew

Wet Area

1. Take note of slopes and drainage on the property.2. Locate naturally wet or dry areas.3. Check views from inside and outside the house.

N

STEP 3

Step 3

• Watch how water drains—or doesn’t drain—in your yard. You may want to plan a grassybuffer zone or plant bed to slow and filterwater draining to a lower area.

• An area doesn’t have to look wet to be wet.Dig down about 6 inches in an area you thinkmay be holding water to see if the soil is moistbelow the surface.

• Take a good look around your yard. Are therethings you want to make sure remain in sightfrom a certain area? Are there sights or noisesyou want to block out?

• Make sure you go inside to look out, too. Youwill want to maximize good views and blockthose that are not so good. And, don’t forgetthe curb appeal. You will want to plansomething that looks good from the street,too.

CIS

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Work Area

Play AreaLiving Zone Screen

ing

Fruit

Vegetable

Screening (Natural)

Flowers

Public Area

Entrance

1. Have a family meeting.2. List and locate landscape uses.

N

STEP 4

Step 4

• This is the time for an all-important familymeeting to talk about how each familymember wants to use the yard.

• Don’t forget the family pet. Your pet will needa place to play and exercise.

• Take your time on this part of the planning.This will help you create a realistic list andmake sure that your landscape will be oneevery member of the family can enjoy.

3-7


Section 3

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NH

ose R

each

Ho

se Reach

Oasis Zone

Oasis Zone

Oasis Zone

Drought Tolerant ZoneDrought Tolerant Zone

Drought Tolerant Zone

Irrigation System

Natural Zone

1. Locate irrigation features and hose bibs.2. Identify water use zones.3. Decide on irrigation methods.4. Research plant characteristics.

STEP 5

Step 5

• Think of different areas of your yard as“zones.” Grouping plants with similar waterneeds into those zones will help you waterefficiently.

• Plant materials in the “natural” zones willsurvive on rainfall without irrigation. Those inthe “drought-tolerant” zones may need a littlesupplemental irrigation during dry weather.“Oasis” zones contain plants that needfrequent watering. Two of the oasis zones arewithin reach of the hose. The oasis zone alongthe street is a turf grass area and is the onlyarea in the yard where an irrigation systemexists.

• You can use the District Plant Guide or othermaterials available in bookstores, libraries andat your local extension service, to help identifyplant material to meet your needs. If you liveon or near salt water, be sure to check salttolerances before making your decision.

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CIS

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Deck

Deck

Deck

1. Outline planting beds & grass areas.2. Draw decks, patios, walkways & other features.3. Add existing plants you want to keep.

NSTEP 6

Shaded Patio

Walkway

Walkway

Step 6

• Now that all the preliminary work is done,you are ready to add the final touches. In thesketch, the light colored areas contain turfgrass. The remaining area contains decking,plant beds, mulched areas and walkways...allplaced to meet the needs earlier identified bythe family.

3-8


Section 3

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Front Porch

CIS

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COONTIE

SAW PALMETTOS

WAX MYRTLES

LIVE OAKS

FRUIT TREES

BANANAS

ELM

RED CEDAR

JUNIPERLIRIOPE

WASHINGTONIA PALMS

COONTIE

Grass

Grass

1. Select appropriate plants.2. Sketch the location of the plants.3. Install irrigation system, plants and mulch.

STEP 7

Step 7

• Here’s the final plan. You don’t have toimplement the entire plan at once. Now thatyou have it on paper, you can install yourXeriscape in sections if you like.

• Your local additional County Extension Serviceis a good source for information on Xeriscapeand other landscaping techniques.

3-9

2. Practical Turf Areas

Turf is probably the thirstiest plant in the typicallandscape, and it requires frequent maintenance.Lawns are great places to play, relax and enjoynature, but you can reduce your water use andmaintenance by considering how much turf youreally need. More options are available than high-maintenance sod. Where they may perform thesame function as turf, consider less thirstymaterials such as islands of drought-tolerantshrubs, trees, ground covers, mulches orhardscapes, such as decks and patios.

3. Soil Amendmentsor Improvements

Adding organic material improves the soil, allowingbetter water penetration, increasing water-holdingcapacity and providing nutrients for plants. Todetermine if improvements are needed, you shouldfirst have your soil’s pH-level tested. Your county’sCooperative Extension Service can provideinformation on having your soil tested. Make any soilimprovements prior to installing plants or anirrigation system.

If you are considering soil amendments orimprovements, keep two things in mind:

� It is much easier to select plants that aresuited to your existing soil conditions,rather than attempting to make the soilsuitable for the plants.

� Soil amendments are temporary andonce plants are in place, it is difficult toreapply the amendments.


Section 3 3-10

4. Efficient Irrigation

If your landscape design includes an irrigation system,remember, the combination of a sound irrigationdesign and installation, along with routinemanagement are both needed to conserve water.Irrigation technology has boomed in the last severalyears and offers improved product quality, variety andincreased efficiency. (Specific information on irrigationsystems is covered in the next section, page 3-13,Irrigation Systems).

Different types of irrigation should be used for specificneeds. Turf irrigation should be on separate irrigationzones from other plants.

1. Turf areas are best watered with rotary orspray heads. Sprinkler heads shouldproduce a uniform, low trajectory streamto reduce susceptibility to wind andevaporation.

2. Trees, shrubs, flower beds and groundcovers can be watered with low volumesprinklers, drip or bubbler emitters (andthese are exempt from water restrictions).

All automatic irrigation systems should have anautomatic rain shutoff device installed. In fact, Floridalaw requires that all systems installed afterMay 1, 1991 include an automatic rain shutoff device.Check with your local utility, local ordinances may bemore stringent.

Even if you have a rain shutoff device and anautomatic system, keeping the system on “manual”lets your lawn tell you when it needs water. Thirstygrass blades will fold slightly and turn a bluish-grey,and your footprints will remain visible.

Knowing how much water and when yourplants need it, as well as monitoring andmaintaining your irrigation system, are thebiggest keys to conserving water outdoors.

5. Mulches

Mulches can be a goldmine in your landscape—theycover and cool the soil, reduce weed growth, slowerosion and minimize evaporation. The variety oftextures and materials available also provide landscapeinterest. There are two basic types of mulch: organicor inorganic.

Organic mulches decay and provide small amounts ofnutrients and structure to the soil. Because of this,they need to be replaced more frequently thaninorganic mulches, but they are less expensive.Organic mulches include shredded bark or chips,wood grindings, compost, fallen leaves, pine needles,etc. Some local municipalities and counties provide arecycled mulch service to their community.

Inorganic mulches are usually rock or gravel products,but can include materials such as shredded tires orplastic. Inorganic mulches do not moderate the soiltemperature or hold moisture as well as organicmulches.

6. AppropriatePlant Selection

Many popular landscape plants are more waterefficient than you might imagine. One of the keyconcepts of Xeriscape is to select the most appropriateplants for the site conditions of your yard. In otherwords, “put the right plant in the right place.” Forexample, if there is an area of your yard that is alwayswet, choose plants that require wet conditions.Consider the use of drought-tolerant plants wheneverpossible, because these plants are more water-efficient.


Section 3

Nearly every landscape function can be served withlow water-use plants — year-round greenery, brightflowers, borders, or accents. It is more common nowfor nurseries to tag their low water use plants for easyselection.

7. Sound Maintenance

Although less frequent maintenance is required ofXeriscaped landscapes, some regular maintenance isnecessary to preserve the intended beauty and savewater too. Pruning, weeding, proper fertilization andwater schedule adjustments contribute to decreasingyour water use and ultimately your time savings.

3-11

Frequently asked questionsabout Xeriscape:

Q: Isn’t Xeriscape just cactus and gravel?

A: Absolutely not! A landscape designedusing Xeriscape principles can be soft,green and flowered. Xeriscapedemonstration areas, such as at the FloridaHouse in Sarasota, have a naturalisticcharacter with walking paths, rocks,inviting shade, as well as beautiful plants.Of course, some cactus and succulentscan also make attractive additions.

Q: I like grass. What about my lawn?

A: One of the key concepts of Xeriscape isto select the most appropriate plant forthe site conditions of your yard. Thisincludes turf areas only where they arethe most practical, such as the children’splay area. By limiting your turf areas,

you can reduce the maintenance andwater that turf requires.

Q: Does Xeriscape include all native plants?

A: Not at all. Although a native gardencan be beautiful for both humans andwildlife, we have a whole world of plantsfrom which to choose. Some plantsnative to Florida require a lot of water.On the other hand, some non-nativeplants require very little water, pesticidesor fertilizers.

Q: Where can I find plants that are suitablefor Xeriscape?

A: Any plant can be used in a landscapedesign using Xeriscape principles.Additionally, your county’s CooperativeExtension Service office has informationon a wide-variety of plants. TheDistrict Plant Guide has informationon over 240 plants, and is available atno charge from the District or yourcounty’s Cooperative Extension Serviceoffice.


Section 3

Irrigation Systems

You can reduce your outdoor water use by up to 30percent simply by having a well maintained, properlyadjusted irrigation system that operates only withinthe allotted watering times, and is equipped with arain shutoff device.

IrrigationSystem Components

Before you can begin to maintain and adjust yoursystem, you need to know the components of yoursystem.

Most residential irrigation systems consist of thefollowing components:

� The controller is an electronic or mechanicaltimer connected to a series of valves to turn the systemon and off at specified intervals. Each area watered bya control valve is called a zone. Electronic controllersare often preferred because they allow differentoperating schedules for each zone. Not knowing howto operate or adjust the controller leads to the greatestwaste of water.

� A backflow prevention assembly ensuresone-way flow between the meter and the controlvalves. The assembly prevents water from backing upinto the main line flowing into the home.

� Sprinklers are categorized as spray heads orrotors. Spray heads apply water at relatively high rates(1.5 in./hr.) to the immediate area, while rotors use 2to 3 times less water, and irrigate larger areas.Therefore, spray zones are operated for shorterdurations than rotor zones.

� The rain shutoff device keeps the irrigationsystem from operating when rainfall accumulationreaches a pre-set level. They are designed tointerrupt the flow of electricity to the pumps, sothat the timer in the controller does not need tobe reset. Florida law requires that all automaticinground irrigation systems (installed after May 1,1991) be equipped with an automatic rain shutoffdevice.

3-12


Section 3

MaintainingIrrigation Systems

Maintaining an irrigation system is one of the mostimportant things you can do to conserve wateroutdoors. The visual inspection is a simple check listthat requires a minimum investment of time and canreveal common problems. It only takes about a halfhour to complete. Ask the following questions as youcheck out the irrigation system:

Visual Inspection 1

Are spray heads turned off in areas withmature, natural shrubs?

The District Plant Guide defines “natural”as surviving only on rainfall. Zoneslandscaped with natural shrubs andground covers do not need to be operatedonce plants are established, althoughduring periods of extended below-normalrainfall, some supplemental irrigationmay be necessary. Consult the DistrictPlant Guide for a complete list of naturaltrees, palms, shrubs, ground covers andvines.

Does the current irrigation schedulewater excessively?

Without conducting either a pressure andflow test, or a catch can test, it isimpossible to determine the applicationrate and therefore the correct operatingtime for an irrigation system. In generalhowever, 45 minutes and 15 minutes isadequate for most rotor zones and sprayzones respectively. (Catch-Can testprocedures are listed on page 3-18.)

Is a rain shutoff device installed and is itfunctioning properly?

Make sure the irrigation system has anautomatic rain shutoff device properlyinstalled. It should be installed so that

1. Visual Inspection and Checklist, and Catch Can Test from Mobile Irrigation Laboratory, Urban Irrigation Evaluation Teaching Manual;January 1996; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

3-13

Are plant beds on separate zones from turf?

One of the most common over-wateringproblems occurs when shrub or flowerbeds and turf are in the same irrigationzone. Most shrubs require less frequentwatering than turf and some commonlandscape shrubs require no supplementalwatering once they are established. Whenshrub beds are watered at the same timeas turf, the beds are almost always overwatered.

Are rotors and spray heads on separatezones?

Spray heads apply water two to threetimes faster than rotors. Spray heads androtors should be on separate zones foruniform application.


Section 3

rainfall can reach the device easily andwhere it will not be watered by thesprinkler system. This allows the systemto function automatically if the homeowner is away from home.

Is the system operated during designatedtimes?

Inspect the controller to make sure theoperating schedule complies with localwatering restrictions.

Is irrigation sprinkler spacing correct?

Proper spacing is necessary for uniformcoverage. Inspect the system to see if thespray pattern from one sprinkler overlapsat least 80% of the radius (40% diameter)of existing systems or 100% of the radius(50% diameter) in new systems to theadjacent sprinklers.

Are flow rates from sprinklers matched?

The flow rate from rotors covering 1/4circles should be one fourth of the flowrate from rotors covering a full circle.Without conducting flow ratemeasurements this is determined by visualinspection. Rotors frequently have anumber associated with their flow rateeither stamped on top of the sprinkler oron he nozzle. Compare this number with

manufacturers’ catalogs to make sure thatrotors irrigating 1/4 circles and 1/2 circlesare delivering water at 1/4 and 1/2 therate of rotors watering full circle.

Is the irrigation stream from rotors freeof obstacles?

Keeping turf trimmed low around rotorsis the easiest way to improve systemuniformity. Some rotors only rise 4inches. If turf is allowed to grow uparound rotors a substantial portion of theapplied water is blocked and not availableto the rest of the zone.

Is the spray pattern from spray headsfree from obstacles?

If spray heads are used for shrub andground cover irrigation, leaves andbranches should be removed from aroundspray nozzles. Shrub interference aroundthe spray stream can block most of theapplied water, preventing water fromreaching root zones.

3-14


Section 3

Are risers used to place spray headsabove or below shrub interference?

When spray heads are installed for shrubirrigation, they are designed for the shrubheight at the time of installation. Asshrubs grow, spray heads will need to beraised or lowered.

Is all water applied within the landscapearea?

Water being applied to driveways orsidewalks can run off into the street andinto stormwater drains. To reduce thiswaste, adjust sprinklers so that wateringonto concrete areas is minimized

Are sprinklers unclogged?

Inspect spray heads and rotors forclogging. If the flow from one spray heador rotor appears low and system pressureappears to be adequate throughout thezone and no leaks are found, the nozzle isprobably clogged. Spray nozzles easilyunscrew and can be washed out. If a geardriven rotor becomes, clogged, the nozzlemust be removed and thoroughlycleaned.

Are sprinklers undamaged and the headsprotected from hazards?

One of the most common irrigationsystem maintenance problems is brokensprinklers that have either been hit by alawn mower or run over by a car.Sprinklers subjected to these possiblehazards, especially along the driveway,should be protected with flex joints orconcrete donuts.

Are rotors and spray heads in uprightposition?

Sprinklers must be perpendicular to theground to more uniformly apply wateracross the zone.

Are all rotors in the zone the same?

There is no single best rotor. Most have avariety of features to distinguishthemselves from their competition, andeach has benefits and drawbacks. Eachbrand does have performancecharacteristics that define how it applieswater over distance. For uniformapplications, rotors with similarcharacteristics should be used throughoutthe zone.

3-15


Section 3

Do turf and plants appear healthy?

Inspect leaves for fungus or signs of over-or under-watering. Look for areas in theturf where water coverage may not beadequate.

Are beds planted with native and/ordrought-tolerant vegetation?

A good way to reduce the amount ofrequired supplemental irrigation isthrough appropriate plant selection.Zones landscaped with native and/ordrought-tolerant shrubs andgroundcovers do not need to be operatedonce plants are established, except duringperiods of extended below-normalrainfall. Turning shrub zones offcompletely can save thousands of gallonsof water per year.

Is the property landscaped withdrought tolerant turf?

St. Augustine turf has low droughttolerance. If you are re-landscaping in thefuture or planning to sod the yard, youshould consider a drought-tolerant turfsuch as Bahia. If the appearance of St.Augustine is desired, consider FX-10,which is a variety of St. Augustine thatdevelops a more extensive root systemand is very drought tolerant.

Is mulch being used appropriately inbeds?

At least 2–3 inches of mulch should beapplied to shrub beds to keep moisture inthe ground and minimize water lost toevaporation. When mulch is appliedcorrectly, the frequency of supplementalwatering should be reduced. Too muchwater applied to the roots can result infungus problems. Also, do not moundmulch directly around the base of a treeor woody ornamental plant, as this willencourage crown rot.

Are low volume emitters being used forbed irrigation?

Spray heads are most commonly used toirrigate shrub and ground cover beds.Spray heads apply water to the surface ofleaves and the surface of mulch where it isnot useful to the vegetation. By using lowflow emitters on the ground surface,below the mulch, water can be applieddirectly to the root zone. This reduces therequired supplemental irrigation by asmuch as 70 percent.

3-16


Section 33-17

Irrigation System Visual Inspection

Name _________________________________

Address _______________________________

Phone ________________________________

Date__________________________________

Designated Operating Times

Matched Sprinklers

Appropriate Timer Settings

Rain Shutoff Device

Layout

YesQuestions No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Are turf and shrub beds onseparate irrigation zones?

Are rotors and spray heads onseparate irrigation zones?

Are turf or plant areas thatrequire irrigation receiving it?

Are turf or plant areas that do notrequire irrigation receiving it?

45–60 minutes for rotor zones?

15–20 minutes for spray zones?

Is a properly installed rainshutoff device present?

Are all flow rates matched to thearea covered?

Is the irrigation system operatingduring designated waterrestriction times?

Are sprinklers covering at least80% of the distance to thenext sprinkler?

Maintenance

Turf and Plants (Optional)

Are spray patterns free frominterference caused by vegetationor other objects?

YesQuestions No

Application Outside Landscape

Are sprinklers undamaged?

Are sprinklers unclogged?

Are sprinklers protected from hazards?

Are rotors and spray heads in an upright position?

Is the lawn landscaped withdrought tolerant turf?

Is mulch being used appropriatelyin beds?

Are low volume emitters beingused for bed irrigation?

Are there leaks in pipes?

Are beds planted with vegetation?

Do turf and plants appear healthy?

Is all the water applied within thelandscape area (does not extendto driveways or sidewalks)?

Do all rotors and spray headshave the same flow rate in thesame zone?

Interference

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No

Yes No


Section 3

Operating anEfficient System

Rain Shutoff Device

Since there are different makes and models of rainshutoff devices, for specific wiring directions,consult the instructions for your particular device.Most models only have two or three wires, so it isjust a matter of determining how to connect themto the right place in your system.

Here are some general guidelines when installinga rain shutoff device:

— Mount the device where it will be exposed tounobstructed rainfall, but not in the path ofirrigation spray. A suitable location maybe on theside of the house or on a post. The closer it is tothe controller, the shorter the wire run will be andthe less chance for wire breaks.

— Mounting the device where it receives a lot ofdirect sun, may cause the device to dry out soonerthan desired. Likewise, mounting it in the shademay keep it from drying out soon enough.

— Most devices allow you to adjust the amountof rainfall needed to activate it. You may need toexperiment with the adjustments to achieve thedesired effect. These adjustments can help youcompensate for an overly sunny installationlocation.

1. Visual Inspection and Checklist, and Catch Can Test from Mobile Irrigation Laboratory, Urban Irrigation Evaluation Teaching Manual;January 1996; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.

3-18

Catch Can Test 1

This evaluation requires a little time, but it is simple,inexpensive and the information it provides is veryvaluable. The catch can test will show you if yourirrigation system distributes water evenly across theyard, and help you locate wet or dry spots. You willalso be able to determine application rates for yourturf and decide how long to operate your irrigationsystem to improve water use efficiency. Reducingirrigation by only 5 minutes per cycle can savethousands of gallons of water each year.

For this test to be accurate and help you become themost water efficient, the irrigation system needs to bewell-maintained. If the system itself leaks, fixing theleaks is the first and best thing you could do.

To conduct the catch can test:

1. Select catch cans to placethroughout the sprinkling area.These cans can be purchased, butothers could be used if they are atleast 2 inches in diameter, tallenough to prevent splash, and heavyenough not to tip over easily. Thecans need to be uniformed in size;soup cans work well, even a set ofcoffee mugs would work.

2. Select one irrigation zone, such asthe front yard. If other turf zones aredesigned with the same brands ofsprinklers and have a similar layout,you could assume these zones willoperate with similar efficiency anduniformity.


Section 33-19

3. Place catch cans in a uniform gridusing at least 16 cans. The morecans you use, the more accurate thetest. Cans should be placed at, andbetween, each sprinkler head.

A

1 2 3 4 5 6

Catch CansSprinklers

7 8

B

C

D

4. Turn on the system or zone for 7 to10 minutes for a spray head zone or20 to 40 minutes for a rotor zone.Visually check the cansduring thetest to see if a measurable amount ofwater has collected; if not, run thesystem longer, recording the time.

Note: If an area is irrigated by more than one zone,then all zones irrigating that area need to be operated.

5. Measure the water in each of thecans using a ruler or measuring tape.

Record this measurement on a grid-pattern data sheetsimilar to how the cans were laid out. This will showyou if the irrigation system distributes water evenlyacross the zone, and if there are any wet or dry areas.

Example: After running zone for 30 minutes,these measurements are recorded:

A

1

3/8"

3/8"

3/8"

7/16"

7/16"

7/16"

5/16"

1/2"

1/2"

1/4"

1/4"

1/4"

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

B

C

D

6. To determine the average irrigationcycle time, first find the averagevolume in the cans by adding all thevalues together then dividing by thenumber of cans measured.

Example:3/8 + 5/16 +1/2 + 7/16 + 3/8 + 1/2 +7/16 + 7/16 + 3/8 + 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4 = 72/16

= 4 1/2

4.5 ÷ 12 = .375= 3/8 avg.

Having done this, we now know that, by running thatirrigation zone for 30 minutes, an average of 3/8 ofan inch of water will fall.

This is very valuable information to know. Why?Because, during Florida’s dry season (October throughMay), turf needs about 1/2 to 1 inch of water perweek. During the summer rainy season (June throughSeptember), it needs about 1 to 2 inches per week.

Using a rain gauge, track the amount of rain receivedduring a week. If the volume of rain that fell wasenough to satisfy the lawn, then you don’t need toirrigate. On the other hand, if not enough rain fell,then you can calculate how long you will need tooperate the irrigation system to provide the lawn withthe additional water it needs.


Section 3

Knowing the water needs of your landscape andgiving only what is needed is one of the mostimportant things you can do to conserve wateroutdoors.

C. Adjusting Your System

There are many brands and models of irrigationcontrollers, each with its own adjustmentprocedure. If you do not know how to adjust yourcontroller and do not have the instructions, thebest thing you can do is go to an irrigation supplybusiness and get the instructions for your makeand model of controller.

If, after following the instructions, you are unableto correctly adjust the controller, you may want tocall an irrigation specialist to show you how totroubleshoot the problem.

The time and effort you spend to correctly adjustyour system will be worthwhile — you’ll save notonly water, but also the cost of the water on yourutility bill and possibly the cost of a fine for notfollowing the local watering restrictions.

Just as there are many brands and models ofirrigation controllers, there are many brands andmodels of spray heads. At the back of thereference guide are the adjustmentinstructions for just a few of themany residential spray heads. If youdo not see instructions for the typeheads you have, again, go to anirrigation supply business and getthe instructions for the makes andmodels in you have.

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Low-VolumeIrrigation Systems

The most practical and water-conscious way to waterplants is through micro irrigation. This optionprovides several important benefits:

� Gets water slowly and directly to the roots;

� Eliminates runoff;

� Reduces evaporation and overspray losses;

� Saves you up to 70 percent more water thanother kinds of irrigation systems;

� Can handle any design by mixingcomponents. For example, you can combinelow volume emitters, minisprays and misters;

� Can be used in combination with a digitalautomatic controller;

� It is exempt from water restrictions when it isused for other than turf grass irrigation.


Section 3

Low-volume irrigation is well suited to most types ofgarden watering since you can design it toaccommodate trees, shrubs, ground covers, vegetablesand potted plants. It is also suited for special plantingsituations. A multi-cycle mist can be created forshallow root plants such as bonsai. To water hangingpots, you can run tubing along eaves.

� The clock or controller regulates the frequency,starting time and duration of an irrigationcycle. Options range from simple clock timers tocomputer-controlled programmers.

� Water valves are electric shutoffs operated by thecontroller that turn water on and off.

� Water regulators restrict the pressure of waterdelivered to drip systems. Drip systems requirelower pressure than most homes use.

� Filters screen sediments so that tiny emitteropenings operate without clogging. Filters areessential if you are on a reclaimed water or selfsupply wells.

� Delivery pipes transport water from source toemitters and are usually made from PVC ormore flexible “poly” materials.

� Micro tubes are flexible mini-distribution tubesto connect main delivery pipes to individualemitters.

� Emitters deliver water from main distributionlines to the plants. They must operate underreduced pressure in order to deliver water at aspecified rate. Water flows from an emitter ingallons per hour while sprinkler irrigationdelivers water in gallons per minute. Emittersmay be color-coded for flow rate and come inthree types: diaphragms that open or close tocontrol flow as pressure changes, turbulent flowand vortex which spin water in interior chambersto lower pressure where the water exits. You canchoose from a variety of emitters:

• Drip: operates at different pressures, most preciseand efficient for confined or potted plants;

• Misters, mini-spray sprinklers: spread water over awider area but at low-flow rates. They are thrifty andbest used for closely-spaced ground covers, flowersand vegetables;

• Porous and perforated pipe: sometimes called soakerhoses or “ooze tubes” are used either above or belowground, and seep water slowly or quickly;

• Bubblers: dispense a fair volume of water but atreduced force to prevent erosion. Some can be screwedonto existing spray heads, while others attach to hoses;

The other options you have for getting water to yourplants can be relatively inexpensive.

Among the cheapest are soil basins, constructed ofcircular ridges of soil around the base of plants.They concentrate water at the roots of trees andshrubs and are most useful for plants growing inopen soil with little surrounding lawn or groundcover.

Rain Barrels —An Alternative Source

for Irrigation.

Have you ever thought of your roof as a water-saving device? If you are looking for a source ofwater for irrigation to supplement natural rainfall,your own roof may be an answer. After all, why letrain go down the gutter? Factoring in evaporation,an 1800-square-foot roof can shed up to 750gallons from an inch of rain! Capturing thisrainwater can be as simple as using an ordinary trashcan as a rain barrel. This barrel can store water fromyour roof to irrigate your plants.

Rain barrels and cisterns are two different words forsimilar rain collection techniques. The term cistern

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Section 3

generally refers to a large-scale system of collecting andstoring rainwater and using the water for more thanjust outdoor irrigation. A rain barrel is just that, abarrel to store 50 or so gallons of rain.

Although cisterns are not prohibited by local statutesor codes, if considering installing a cistern, check withyour local building and health department for anyapplicable codes to be followed.

When considering a rain barrel, one factor that cannotbe ignored is the variation of annual rainfall in westcentral Florida. Most of our rainfall occurs during thesummer months, when supplemental irrigation is notrequired. Therefore, the size of the barrel must beadequate to store enough water for an extended periodof time. This may make using a rain barrel to irrigatelarge areas impractical.

To set up a rain barrel, you need a plastic trash can orbarrel (be sure the barrel has not been used forchemicals or petroleum products) with a hole cut inthe top, a downspout which fits into the hole, and away to drain out the water you want. Some gardensupply stores sell barrels specifically designed forrainbarrels, with a hole in the top and a handy draintap positioned part way up the side. (Evidence hasshown that light-colored plastic barrels break downfrom sunlight much faster than dark-colored plastics.)

If you use a rain barrel orcistern, some precautions needto be observed. Although rainwater is essentially cleanand appropriate foroutdoor purposes, it canpresent some hazards,especially when stored inoutdoor containers for along time. Remember,roofs may becontaminated by birdand wildlife deposits,leaves, airborne

pollutants and some chemicals from roof materials. Allof these will end up in your rain barrel or cistern.Additionally, your storage container needs to have atight-fitting cover to prevent mosquitoes from using itas a breeding site.

Pools and Spas

A swimming pool holding some 20,000 gallons mayseem excessive; however, once filled, a pool will use lesswater than a turf area of the same size. And a well-maintained, water-smart pool will consume only halfthat!

A. Use a pool or spa cover when not in use.Covers are a wise investment for severalreasons:

1. Reduces evaporation losses by up to 70percent;

2. Acts as an insulating barrier to keep inheat;

3. Protects water from direct sunlight,reducing chlorine use up to 50 percent;

4. Helps keep falling and blowing debris outof the pool;

5. Extends pool and spa life by cutting downon need for acid washes, liner repair, andfilter, pump and heater replacement;

6. Makes pool or spa safer. More than half ofall the children who drown, do so in thefamily pool.

B. Plug the overflow drain before using thepool, but not before using an indoor spa.

C. Turn off the spray device on automaticcleaning equipment.

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Section 3

D. Clean filters by dismantling and cleaning,rather than backwashing.

E. Reduce the thermostat setting for heatedpools and spas to reduce evaporative lossesand energy use.

Calculating Pool or SpaWater Loss ThroughEvaporation

How much water your pool loses to evaporationwill suprize you and the procedure to determinethis is easy:

1. Mark the existing water level on the sideof the pool with a grease pencil.

2. One week later, mark the water level againand measure the difference with a ruler.Convert your measurement to a decimalnumber.

Example: 1 1/2 inches = 1.5 inches

Now multiply that number by 0.083. Thisconverts your measurement in inches to ameasurement in feet. Example: 1.5 inchesx 0.083 = 0.125 feet

3. Determine the pool’s surface area in feetby multiplying the pool length by thewidth. For irregular shaped pools,approximate or look at pool blueprints.

3-23

4. Now multiply the surface area ofyour pool (step 3) by the amount ofpool water loss in feet (step 2). Thiswill be the number of cubic feet ofwater lost to evaporation.

5. Finally, convert cubic feet to gallonsby multiplying by the number 7.48.

For example:

1. Say our loss measurement for a week is2 2/3 inches.

2 2/3 inches = 8/3 inches= 8 ÷ 3 = 2.66 inches

To convert to feet: 2.66 x 0.083 = 0.22 feet

2. Our pool is 10 ft. x 15 ft., or 150 square feet.

3. 150 square feet x 0.22= 33 cubic feet of water loss

4. 33 cubic feet x 7.48 = 246.8 gallons of waterlost every week to evaporation. If this rate ofevaporation continued for one year, we wouldlose nearly 12,800 gallons a year!

8

12

15

Width (ft.) Length (ft.) Surface area (sq. ft.)

16

24

30

128

288

450

Section 4:

Helping Your Community


Section 4

Congratulations on completing the CommunityWater Counselor program.

We hope you will now take what you have learnedand experienced during the two workshops, andshare it with your neighbors. By showing themwhat you’ve learned, you will:

• Help the environment through waterconservation;

• Help your neighbors become water-efficientand save money on their water bill; and,

• Feel good because you’ve helped make adifference in your community.

This section will give you some ideas on how youcan reach out to your neighbors.

Presentingthe Information

1. First, answer these questions:

❑ What are the top three things that I gotout of the workshops?

❑ Why are those my top three?

❑ What got me most excited about them?

❑ Will they save me the most on my waterbill?

❑ Are they things I know can now domyself?

Once you have three things that you’re excitedabout, now it’s just a matter of finding the bestway to present those three things to your friendsand neighbors.

2. Next, we need to let your community knowabout you — their new Community WaterCounselor. If your association prints a newsletter,fill in the “Press Release” template at the end ofthis section and give it to the person whopublishes the newsletter.

Also, go to the next association meeting to give ashort report on the CWC program you attended,explain what you learned in the workshops, andtell your neighbors that you are willing to shareyour new knowledge.

3. Plan some activities that would allow you to“show” rather than “tell” people how to savemoney and water.

• If you know neighbors are interested inXeriscape™ landscaping, plan tocreate a community demonstration area ofwater-saving landscape alternatives.A project like this would involve membersactively, and it would also gain the interestof others.

• Start a monthly or biannual landscapingaward program for water efficientlandscapes.

• Circulate a questionnaire or survey on wateruse, then present the results at yourassociation meeting or in the newsletter tocreate interest.

• Start a contest to see who can cut their waterbill the most within a specified time frame.

• Present a new water-saving tip at eachassociation meeting. Or, include tipsyou have learned to improve efficiency inyour community’s newsletter.

• Circulate brochures and information aboutclasses or activities from the CooperativeExtension or Water Department.

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Section 4

NOTE: The CWC workshops were NOTintended to qualify you to be the neighborhoodplumber. They were intended to familiarize youwith the relative simplicity of the processesinvolved, give you a chance to see the process“inaction,” and supplement other home-repairguidance that you normally turn to.

4. How will you evaluate the community’s movetoward water efficiency?

Some utilities have the ability to provide collectivewater-use statistics for a given neighborhood. Thiswould allow the neighborhood association to trackcommunitywide water savings as variousefficiencies are implemented on a community-scale. Call the water resource contact for yourutility (end of the reference book) to see if theyare able to provide water-use data in this form.

Also, you can survey homeowners, much like youwere surveyed at the start of the two workshops.Again, present the results at an associationmeeting.

5. What are your resources?

All projects take time, energy, leadership andmaterial resources. Becoming a water efficientcommunity can take a few or many resources,depending on the desired outcome.

What resources do you already have available —

• Interested neighbors?

• “Experts” such as plumbers, people who sellor repair appliances, gardeners or nurseryowners who already live in yourcommunity?

• A meeting place?

• A community association as a forum foryour ideas?

• Funding, connections with governmentresources?

You maybe able to find other resources through:

• The contacts you’ve made during theseworkshops;

• The course reference guide. Materials fromthe guide can be requested from theDistrict, or the appropriate agency. Teachingaids are available for sign-out from theDistrict;

• Speakers from the different agencies areavailable to discuss a wide variety of waterand environmental issues.

Helping others become good stewards of the waterresource can be fun and educational for everyone.The benefits to your community, the sharedexperiences of making a positive difference in yourcommunity, and the rewards of living in harmonywith nature will all make it worthwhile to be anactive Community Water Counselor.

We congratulate you on completing the programand are here to help you in the future.

4-2

“Our Community Now Has a Water Counselor”

__________________________________ recently completed the Community Water Counselor (CWC)

program, sponsored by ___________________________________ and the Southwest Florida Water

Management District (SWFWMD).

The CWC program was specifically designed for homeowners’ associations to help residents save water and,

in most cases, money as well. Most of us are already conserving water in some way. As our CWC,

_______________________________ can share other tips and techniques to help us conserve even more.

Most of these techniques are easy, once you know how.

Topics covered during the CWC Program included:

• Florida’s water resources, and where our drinking water comes from;• Indoor water efficiency techniques, such as:

— Reading your water meter and understanding your water bill;— Conducting a home water audit;— Installing a low-flow showerhead and toilet, and their proper maintenance;— Fixing leaky faucets.

• Outdoor efficiency techniques include:— Xeriscape principles, and applying them to your landscape;— Cistern use for the residential landscaper;— Maintaining and adjusting a residential irrigation system;— Drip irrigation systems.

Residents interested in learning more water conservation tips can contact __________________________at (phone number or address or contact method).

Press Release For Community Newsletters

Section 5

Community Water Counselor (CWC) ProgramInternet Sites

The following Internet sites provide good information on the particular subject indicated. These sites wereactive as of August 20, 1999. A listing in this index does not constitute an endorsement by the SWFWMD,and the SWFWMD is not responsible for the information contained on these Internet sites. These areexamples of the many Internet sites that contain information related to water conservation and protection.

Section 1 — Florida’s Water World

The Hydrologic Cycle http://www.getwise.org/cycle/cycle.htmlEarth’s Ground Water http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/earthgw.htmlFlorida’s Ground Water http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/guerry/Flwater.htm

http://www.epa.gov/surf2/locateFlorida Water Factoids http://www2.dep.state.fl.us.enviropage/html/water.htmWater Quality http://www.savannah-online.com/watercon/stream.htm

http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/characteristics.html

Water UseWater Use in the U.S. http://h2o.usgs.gov

Alternative SourcesThe ABC’s of Desalting http://www.ida.bm/html/abc.htmDesalination in the Tampa Bay area http://www.tampabaywater.org/New_TBW/MWP_Projects

/Desal/Desal.htmReuse http://www.srcsd.com/about/about_waste/waste.htmlAquifer Storage & Recovery http://141.232.1.11/org/pld/proj/asr/asr_in_fla.htmRepurified Water http://tampareuse.org/fact_sheets/purified_water.html

Compare your knowledge of the environmentwith adults across the country. http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/quiz/input.html

Section 2 — Indoor Conservation http://www.ci.santa.barbara.ca.us/wresourc/bfindoor.htm

Reading Your Water Meter http://www.savannah-online.com/watercon/education.htmHome Water Audit http://www.savannah-online.com/watercon/survey.htmSaving Money by Saving Water http://solstice.crest.org/environment/gotwh/general/

indoor-water/index.html55 Facts and Figures on

Water Conservation http://www.water.denver.co.gov/cnserv55.htm

Consumer Reporton Low-Flow Toilets http://terrylove.com/crtoilet.htm

5-1

Internet Sites

Section 5

Internet Sites

Facts on Low-Flow Toiletsand Showerheads http://www.dnr.state.co.us/cwcb/owc/freefa.htm

Toilet maintenance, repair,replacement http://www.toiletology.com/toc.sht

FAQs About 1.6 gpf Toilets http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watercon/toiletq.htmToilet Tummies http://www.thames-water.com/waterwise/hippo/hippo.htmlShowerheads http://www.hometips.comFaucets http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/mod02/01500175.html

http://www.hometips.com

Section 3 — Outdoor Conservation http://hort.usu.edu/classes/Plsci4100/index.htm

Water Restrictions http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/rules/swfrestr

Water Efficient LandscapingXeriscape Principles http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/xeris/swfxeris.htmlDrought-Tolerant Plants http://www.floridaplants.com http://www.floridata.com/

main_fr.cfm

Efficient IrrigationCatch Can Test http://hort.usu.edu/classes/Plsci4100/sec6/sld029.htmSprinkler Irrigation Design Tutorial http://www.JessStryker.com/spklr.htmIrrigation Filtration Tutorial http://www.JessStryker.com/filters.htmIrrigation Installation Tutorial http://www.JessStryker.com/install.htmIrrigation Scheduling Tutorial http://www.JessStryker.com/irrsch.htm

Lawn Sprinkler Selection & Lay Out http://edis.ifas.ufl.eduscriptshtmlgen.exe?for Uniform Water Application DOCUMENT_AE084

Maintenance Calendar http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/scripts/htmlgen.exe?St. Augustine Grass DOCUMENT_LH021

Maintenance Calendar Bahia Grass http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/scripts/htmlgen.exe?DOCUMENT_WI003

Coping with Drought in the Landscape http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/scripts/htmlgen.exe?DOCUMENT_MG026

Florida Yards and NeighborhoodsProgram http://hort.ufl.edu/fyn

Other Outdoor Conservation TechniquesRain Barrel and Cisterns http://hammock.ifas.ufl.edu/txt/fairs/1897Pools and Spas http://ladwp.com/resserv/coninfo/swimpool/swpool.htm

http://homeownernet.com/articles/swpools.html

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