South Florida Adopts Two-Times-Per-Week Watering Schedule
EFFECTIVE APRIL 18, 2008

Under the water shortage emergency order, the up to two-days-a-week landscape irrigation restrictions go into effect April 18, 2008.  The biggest change is allowing landscape irrigation a second time during the week.

Highlights of the Modified Phase II water shortage order include:

• Residents and businesses of Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties are limited to a two-day-per-week landscape irrigation schedule with two "watering windows:"
  • Odd street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m
    
    
  • Even street addresses may irrigate lawns and landscapes on Thursdays and Sundays from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and/or 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
    
    
  • No watering is allowed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
    
    
  • The SFWMD recommends the efficient use of water, which includes placing a maximum of about three-quarters of an inch to an inch of water once per week on lawns and accomplishing irrigation during the early morning hours when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest to reduce evaporation losses.

• Hand-watering with one hose fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed for 10 minutes per day for landscape stress relief and to prevent plant die-off.
  
• Low-volume irrigation, including the use of drip and microjet systems that apply water directly to plant root zones, is not restricted but should be voluntarily reduced.
  
• Additional watering days and times are allocated for the establishment of new lawns and landscapes
  
• No restrictions apply to other outside water uses, such as for car and boat washing, pressure cleaning of paved surfaces, decorative fountains and water-based recreation (e.g. swimming pools, water slides).
  
• Golf courses must reduce their allocated water use by 30 percent.
  

Other important water restriction and conservation information:

• To encourage compliance during the Phase III restriction period, a 45 percent surcharge is added to all water consumption past the first consumption block (6,000 gallons for a residential 5/8” meter) and is added to ALL sprinkler classes.
• Regarding non-compliance with the Phase III restrictions, please notify the City of Plantation Police Department of any violations in progress. Current City Code allows for a first violation carrying a $25 fine; and each future violation carrying a fine up to $500.
• Distribution system water pressure is being reduced to conserve water; you may notice a marked reduction.
• We strongly encourage residents to be mindful of their water use and be thoughtful of ways you can save water.If the residents and businesses of Plantation can permanently reduce our per capita water consumption, we may be able to significantly delay or eliminate altogether the need for costly alternative water supply projects.  The most inexpensive alternative water supply project is CONSERVATION.

For more information about current Residential and Commercial water restrictions and water conservation tips, please visit:

www.savewaterfl.com

or call the South Florida Water Management District Water Shortage hotline at (800) 662-8876.

For billing questions, please call the Plantation Utilities Customer Service office at (954) 797-2290.

Conserve Water
Protect the Environment
$ave Money

Water Conservation Resources and Information

• Water Matters is the County’s educational program that helps homeowners, policymakers, local businesses and property managers understand their role in water management and water conservation.
  
• NatureScape is about creating Florida-friendly landscapes that conserve water, protect water quality and create wildlife habitats.
• Broward’s Integrated Water Resource Plan (IWRP) looks at how Broward’s water resources might be most effectively and efficiently managed, for the next ten years and beyond. The Plan is an important step in making sure that water is managed in a way that benefits everyone, while protecting the environment.
• Know the Flow educates local residents, property managers, landscape professionals and municipal staff about how they each contribute to the successful functioning of our water management system. The Know the Flow program was developed in partnership with the Central Broward Water Control District and the South Florida Water Management District and provides an overview of local water management. The program emphasizes that we all have a role as water managers