Plea for Conservation & Watering Restrictions

Conservation of our water is more important than ever, and I am requesting your help.  Many of you have told me that you see people irrigating their yards at all times of the day and several days a week and don’t know what to do about it.  Some of you have even taken the extra step to try to educate your neighbors about water restrictions, and they pay you no heed.  I have heard people say that they think there is no way to enforce the restrictions mandated by the St. Johns River Water Management District.  This is not true as they do patrol the District and will go out to an address that is reported to be watering contrary to the mandated restrictions. 
All you have to do is report the address to the number below and here is what happens: 

1. A patrol goes out to the residence and tries to educate the folks that are reported about the restrictions and gives them a packet about water conservation.
2. Then they are in the District's computer, and they will be checked again infrequently.  If they are reported again or caught by the patrol, they will be given a warning.
3. If the party is reported or caught a third time, they can be slapped with a fine. 

Agricultural watering and hand watering are not covered by the landscape irrigation restrictions.  The report can be anonymous.

Nobody wants to be a snitch, but the fact of the matter is that people who wantonly waste water and will not do what they should do voluntarily need to be subjected to some kind of penalty.  They are stealing your water.  Not only are our lakes disappearing from the face of the earth, but we also have folks in our area on limited incomes who have had to pay over $5000 to have their pumps replaced and deeper wells dug because the aquifer is so low.  It does not matter if you live inside the city limits or in the country, if you live in the St. Johns River Water Management District you are bound by these rules.  If you live in the Suwannee District, please contact them and find out what recourse you have for water abusers. 

I realize some people ask why they should have to do anything when big industries are using so much water.  I say all the more reason to save every drop we can.  How can we ask them to reduce their use if we will not?  Charity starts at home, and we all have a straw in the aquifer.  Please observe the restrictions listed below and help educate others about them.  It is up to us to save the aquifer that supports all of the lakes, rivers, springs and wetlands of North Florida.  You can find other conservation tips on the SJRWMD website: http://www.sjrwmd.com/waterconservation/ .

Thank you,

Jackie Host, President

Lake Area Water Alliance

For more information, questions or to report violations, please call (800) 232-0904.

Watering Restrictions

Know Your Days

Mandatory lawn watering restrictions specify the days when you may water. These days depend on whether you have an odd or even numbered address, and the time of year.

ime of year    Homes with odd numbered or no addresses Homes with even numbered addresses      Nonresidential

Daylight saving time    Wednesday/Saturday      Thursday/Sunday Tuesday/Friday 

Eastern Standard Time   Saturday        Sunday  Tuesday

• Daylight saving time: Second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November
• Eastern Standard Time: First Sunday in November until the second Sunday in March
• An odd numbered address is one that ends in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9.
• An even numbered address is one that ends in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8.
• Water only when needed and not between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Water for no more than one hour per zone.
• Restrictions apply to private wells and pumps, ground or surface water and water from public and private utilities.
• Some exceptions apply.