PHASE i WATER SHORTAGE RESTRICTIONS

Phase I water shortage restrictions are in effect May 12, 2020 through July 1, 2020.

The following wasteful and unnecessary uses are prohibited, including:

• Allowing water to flow from an unattended hose.
• Hand Watering a lawn on an otherwise restricted day or more than once a day.
• Hosing-down a driveway or other impervious surface to remove grass clippings or other debris that can be removed with a broom or other dry methods.
• Hosing-down a building or other structure to remove cobwebs or other material that can be removed with a broom or other dry methods.
• Allowing water to flow from a broken sprinkler head, outdoor faucet, or other malfunctioning plumbing or irrigation system component, after receiving a verbal or written notice of the malfunction from the Manatee County Utilities Department.

Irrigation Hours & Restrictions

• Irrigation of existing lawns and landscaping is limited to once a day, two times per week.
• Irrigation is only allowed before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. on approved days.

Restrictions apply to all potable (drinking) water and all irrigation waters that come from wells, surface water sources including retention ponds, rivers, lakes, etc. Violations of this directive carry fines up to $10,000 as provided for under Florida Statute §373.129(5).

Watering Days by Address

• EVEN addresses (last digit is 0,2, 4, 6 or 8) may only irrigate Thursday AND/OR Sunday
• ODD addresses (last digit is 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) may only irrigate Wednesday AND/OR Saturday
• Properties without addresses may only irrigate on Tuesday AND/OR Friday

Lawn watering days and times may be different if your homeowners association (HOA) operates under a variance issued by the Southwest Water Management District. Please check with your HOA if your community has an alternative watering schedule.

HAND WATERING AND MICRO OR DRIP IRRIGATION

Hand watering and micro-irrigation or drip-irrigation of plants, shrubs and trees (lawn areas excluded) can be done on any day of the week and at any time of the day. Use a shut-off nozzle on the hose.

FOUNTAINS, CAR WASHING AND PRESSURE WASHING

There are no restrictions on fountains, car washing and pressure washing.

IRRIGATION OF NEW SOD, GRASS SEED AND PLANT MATERIAL

Property owners should contact the Water Conservation Office at (941) 792-8811 ext 5327 to register a new landscape project and qualify for the following:

• On days 1-30, beginning on the day of installation, new sod, grass seed and plant material may be watered any day of the week, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.

• On days 31-60, new sod, grass seed and plant material may be watered as follows: Even-numbered addresses may only water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Odd-numbered addresses may only water on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Common areas, mixed even/odd addresses, and location with no address may water on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. Following this period most smaller-sized plant material has become established and must follow the two day per week restriction outlined above.  Larger trees and shrubs will need a longer establishment period and micro-irrigation (using shrubber emitters) can be used to continue the establishment period. Call the County Extension Office (941) 722-4524 to receive additional information on plant establishment periods.

NOTE: All new plant material (new or replacement sod, grass seed or new plants/shrubs) must cover at least 50% of an irrigation zone in order to water with an in-ground sprinkler system during the establishment period. If not, the new plant material must be hand watered following the same time of day and day of week restrictions for new plant establishment. (Example: If you purchased one flat of grass plugs to place throughout your front yard to fill in bare spots, this would not cover 50% or an irrigation zone. Hand watering would be required.)

Also, only those zones containing 50% new plant material may be watered, not the entire yard. (Example: If you had your entire front yard re-sodded, but not your backyard, only those zones covering the front yard may run during the establishment period. The backyard zones would have to remain on the regular watering schedule. Most irrigation timers have an A & B program. Program A can be set for the regular watering. Program B can be programmed for multiple days to only water those zones containing the new plant material during the establishment period.)

Failure to contact the Water Conservation Department may result in a warning notice or citation.

RECLAIMED WATER

Reclaimed water remains subject to voluntary watering hours, unless blended with another water source.