5 EASY WAYS TO SAVE WATER OUTDOORS
- Are you odd? Or even? Know your watering days.
- During Daylight Saving time (second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November) irrigation is limited to no more than two days per week on scheduled days.
- Residential irrigation at odd numbered addresses or no addresses is allowed on Wednesday and Saturday if needed.
- Residential irrigation at even numbered addresses is allowed on Thursday and Sunday if needed.
- Commercial irrigation is allowed on Tuesday and Friday if needed. Irrigation is prohibited between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Check your sprinkler system to make sure it’s working efficiently.
- An automatic irrigation system is set for a predetermined time of day and days of the week.
- Make sure it is set to follow the watering restrictions. Learn how to operate your system.
- Check timing devices regularly to make sure they are operating properly.
- Watch for broken or misdirected sprinklers.
- During extended periods of rainy weather, irrigation systems should be turned off. Florida law requires that all automatic irrigation systems installed after May 1991 have a functioning rain sensor shut-off switch. This switch overrides the automatic irrigation system’s cycle when a preset amount of rain has fallen. The switch can be adjusted for different amounts of rainfall. To ensure proper functioning, the sensor should not be installed in an area that is blocked by roof overhangs, bushes or trees. Check regularly to make sure the system is working properly.
- Turn off your sprinkler system if there’s rain in the forecast.
- Think "smart" irrigation technology.
- “Smart” water application technologies take the human element out of the equation.
- Smart sensors and controllers monitor weather and other site conditions and adjust the irrigation system to apply just the right amount of water at just the right time.
- Water-saving nozzles and pressure regulators apply water precisely, just where it’s needed.
- Together, these technologies can successfully reduce outdoor water use by as much as 20 to 40 percent annually, while maintaining a healthy, beautiful landscape.
- Many of these devices have WiFi functionality and can be controlled from a smart phone.
- Right plant, right place.
- If you choose plants that are well-suited to the location where they are planted they will perform well with limited additional input.
- Healthy plants will be much better equipped to withstand problems than those who are struggling with an environment.
- The most efficient way to organize your landscape is to group plants according to their water needs and soil conditions. If plant placement is done correctly, plants will need little to no supplemental irrigation once established.
- Check out the SJRWMD's Waterwise Plant Database.
For more information, questions or comments visit www.cocoafl.org/conservation or http://sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions/.
To report watering restriction violations, please call (321) 433-8705 or email ddowns@cocoafl.org, or call (800) 232‑0904 or send an email to waterrestriction@sjrwmd.com.
