SFWMD Water Restrictions

On Thursday, November 10th, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) rescinded all emergency mandatory water restrictions for Palm Beach County that have been in effect since March 2011.  The removal of the District’s water restrictions is due to increased rainfall during the June-to-October wet season, which ended with a total water level that was  4.52 inches above average for this period.

As a result of the SFWMD rescinding the emergency water restrictions, the City of Delray Beach’s automatic 15% surcharge has been removed (City Code - Section 52.34. Water Rates.).  This automatic charge, which is added to the commodity charge for all potable water used in excess of 15,000 gallons per month, became effective when the SFWMD imposed its Phase 1 Moderate Water Shortage Restrictions.

The automatic 15% surcharge was discontinued by the City of Delray Beach as of November 11th, which will be reflected in the City’s November & December 2011 utility billing statements (depending on when the customer’s meter is read).

It should be noted that the SFWMD is projecting a drier-than-normal forecast for the next several months and may result in a return to water shortage conditions in the spring 2012.  If this projection does occur and results in the District re-enacting the Phase I water restrictions, the City of Delray Beach would be required by City Code to reinstitute the 15% surcharge for all water use above 15,000 gallons per month.

3-Day-A-Week Watering Schedule
Due to the District rescinding the emergency order, residential and business properties within the City of Delray Beach will return to a 3-Day-A-Week, which provides for the following:

Users within the City of Delray Beach may water lawns and landscapes on two days or may exercise the option and irrigate a third day based upon the permitted watering schedule outlined below:

• Residents and businesses with an odd-numbered street address may water lawns and landscapes on Mondays, Wednesdays and/or Saturdays, only before 10 a.m. OR after 4 p.m.
• Residents and businesses with an even-numbered street address, no street address or those that irrigate both even and odd addresses within the same zones, which may include multi-family units and homeowners associations, may water lawns and landscapes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and/or Sundays, only before 10 a.m. OR after 4 p.m.

New Landscaping, Sod or Other Plantings
With regards to new landscaping, properties in the City of Delray Beach are permitted to water for up to 90 days following the installation of new lawns and landscaping.

On the day new landscaping is installed, new plantings and the soil may be irrigated once without regard to the normally allowable watering days and times. Soil irrigation is also allowed immediately prior to planting.

New plantings that have been in place for 30 days or less may be watered on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and/or Sundays, only before 10 a.m. and/or after 4 p.m.

New plantings that have been in place from 31 to 90 days may be watered on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and/or Saturdays, only before 10 a.m. and/or after 4 p.m.

Irrigation is limited to the areas containing new landscaping only. An entire irrigation zone may be watered only if new landscaping is planted on at least 50 percent of that zone. If new landscaping is planted on less than 50 percent of an irrigation zone, only the new plantings may be watered.

Applying Lawn Maintenance Products
Landscape irrigation for watering-in fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides is allowed for one application unless the need for more than one application is stated in the directions specified by the product manufacturer.

Watering-in is allowed only during established watering days and times unless a professional licensed applicator has posted a temporary sign with the date of the application and the date of needed watering-in.

Water Conservation Opportunities
In addition, the City of Delray Beach has maintained an active approach to promoting water conservation measures within the City.  For information about year-round landscape irrigation conservation measures as well as other water conservation tips and opportunities, please visit the links below. 

For additional information on the water shortage, irrigation restrictions or water conservation, please call Jesus Rodriguez, Senior Water Conservation Analyst, SFWMD, on the toll-free Water Conservation Hotline at (800) 662-8876 or by E-Mail at jerodrig@sfwmd.gov. 

To view the SFWMD press release, click on the link  http://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/pls/portal/docs/16681507.PDF.