SFWMD Water Shortage Orders and Year Round Landscape Irrigation RuleSFWMD Water Shortage Orders and Year Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Terrie Bates, Assistant Deputy Executive Director Regulatory & Public Affairs December 1, 2009

Landscape Irrigation Restrictions Landscape Irrigation Restrictions

Pre-2003: Only limitation - “no watering between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.”

2003: Rule limiting landscape irrigation to 3-days per week - Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties

No days-per-week limit elsewhere

2006 – 2009: In response to worsening drought conditions, Water

Shortage Orders issued limiting landscape irrigation

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Water Shortage OrdersNovember 2006 - December 2007Water Shortage OrdersNovember 2006 - December 2007

Water Shortage Orders in effect throughout most of South Florida

Landscape irrigation limits varying from 1-day per week to 2-days per week

Phase II Phase III

Water Shortage Orders ExpandedDecember 2007Water Shortage Orders ExpandedDecember 2007

Jurisdiction split between South Florida & St. Johns

St. Johns rule limiting landscape irrigation to 2-days per week had been in effect for several years

To minimize public confusion and promote consistency in messaging, South Florida Water Shortage Order required water users in Orange & Osceola to follow the St. Johns rule

POLKSFWMD

Water Shortage Orders ExpandedDecember 2007Water Shortage Orders ExpandedDecember 2007

Jurisdiction split between South Florida & Southwest Florida

Southwest Water Shortage Order limiting irrigation to 2-days per week had been in effect for sometime.

To minimize public confusion and promote consistency in messaging, South Florida Water Shortage Order required water users in Polk & Highlands to follow the Southwest Order

POLKSFWMD

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Rulemaking process started in July, 2007 to expand existing Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule to entire District

Postponed until broader, comprehensive Water Conservation Program developed in Sept 2008

Rulemaking re-started in October 2008

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Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Water Shortage Orders remain in effect as South Florida’s Irrigation Rule is finalized

St. Johns rule recently amended to limit irrigation to one-day per week during eastern standard time

Water Shortage Order for Orange County revised in November, 2009 to reference current St. Johns amended rule

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Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule approved by South Florida Governing Board in November, 2009

Effective date: mid-January 2010

2-days per week in Charlotte, Highlands, Orange, Osceola, Okeechobee & Polk Counties

2- or 3-days per week in southern Florida – may be revisited by Governing Board at any time

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Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Need to minimize public confusion, promote consistent messaging and facilitate implementation / enforcement in counties where jurisdiction is split

South Florida rule provides for Local Government Option

Local government may enact ordinance to achieve a uniform schedule (i.e. 1-day per week) within its jurisdiction

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SummarySummary

Water Shortage Order remains in effect in Orange County

requires water users to follow St. Johns River Water Management District Rule

South Florida Year Round Landscape Irrigation Rule anticipated to become effective in January, 2010

Rule allow Local Government Option to allow for uniform schedule within counties with split water management jurisdiction

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Questions?

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Revised Water Shortage Order for Reedy Creek Improvement District

Revised Water Shortage Order for Reedy Creek Improvement District

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South Florida Irrigation Limits South Florida Irrigation Limits

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http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.html

Consistency with other Water Management Districts

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range

USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature RangeUSDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range

South Florida Irrigation Limits South Florida Irrigation Limits

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http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.htmlhttp://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-se1.html

Consistency with other Water Management Districts

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range

USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature RangeUSDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range