Tampa Bay Water Restrictions Start Today

Water restrictions, now talked about for the last several weeks, go into effect today.

Details from the Water Use Restrictions Page:
http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Water/information_resources/restrictions/

Effective Dates

* These restrictions go into effect on April 3, 2009.
* They are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2009.

Affected Areas

* Modified Phase IV restrictions apply to customers of Tampa Bay Water member government utilities, other utilities that receive water from the member governments (either directly or indirectly), and Aloha Utilities in Pasco County. See list at the end of this page.
* Residents using water from the City of Tampa’s Water Department are to follow the City of Tampa’s Emergency Ordinances effective on April 3, 2009.
* Residents in Hillsborough, Pasco or Pinellas counties using other sources of water, either private well water or water from utilities not affected by the Phase IV measures, remain under the current Modified Phase III restrictions.

Lawn Watering Schedule

* Same Days: All lawn watering remains limited to the same once-per-week schedule. Check with your local utility if you are unaware of your watering day.

* Different Hours:
o Midnight to 4 a.m. for properties less than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight for properties more than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o 6–8 a.m. and 6–10 p.m. for properties of any size, using sprinkling cans, hand-held hose equipped with automatic shut-off nozzle, or using a hose equipped with a portable sprinkler.

Note: The same lawn area may not be watered by multiple means, in other words, persons may not use an irrigation system and a hand-held hose to water the same area twice on their day.

Landscape (non-lawn) Watering Schedule

* Limited Days:
o Watering of landscapes using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads) or a hand-held hose equipped with a portable sprinkler remains limited to the same once-per-week schedule as lawn watering.
o Watering of landscapes (non-lawn) using a sprinkling can, hand watering with a hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation is now limited to three days per week. Micro-irrigation includes soaker hoses, drip tubes, microjets and other forms of low-volume irrigation technology. Even addresses may use any of these forms of efficient irrigation on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd addresses may do so on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

* Different Hours:
o Midnight to 4 a.m. for properties less than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight for properties more than one acre, using an in-ground rotor and spray irrigation system.
o 6–8 a.m. and 6–10 p.m. for properties any size, using a sprinkling can, hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation.

Establishment Irrigation for New or Replacement Lawns

* Same Days: New and replacement turf (sod, plugs, seed, etc.) continues to have a 30-day establishment period:
o On days 1–15, the new or replacement turf may be watered any day of the week.
o On days 16–30, the turf may only be watered approximately every other day. Even-numbered addresses may only water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses may only water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

* Different Hours:
o Midnight to 4 a.m. for properties less than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight for properties more than one acre, using an in-ground rotors and sprays irrigation system.
o 6–8 a.m. and 6–10 p.m. for properties any size, using a sprinkling can, hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation.

Establishment Irrigation for New Landscaping (non-lawn)

* Different Days: New plants (other than lawns) now have a new, 60-day establishment period:
o On days 1–15, new plants may be watered any day of the week.
o During days 16–45, new plants may be watered approximately every other day. Even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
o During days 46-60, new plants may be watered two days per week. Even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesday and Saturday. Odd-numbered addresses may water on Wednesday and Sunday.

* Different Hours:
o Midnight to 4 a.m. for properties less than one acre in size, using an in-ground irrigation system (rotor and spray sprinkler heads).
o Midnight to 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. to midnight for properties more than one acre, using an in-ground rotors and sprays irrigation system.
o 6–8 a.m. and 6–10 p.m. for properties any size, using a sprinkling can, hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle, or micro-irrigation.

Fountains

* Aesthetic fountains and other water features are now prohibited.

Car and Pressure Washing

* Residential car washing is now prohibited.
* Charity car washes are now prohibited.
* Commercial car wash operations and mobile detailing services are allowed. However, cars for sale or lease may not be routinely washed; they may be washed immediately prior to sale or lease.
* Pressure washing conducted by commercial businesses is allowed for certain purposes, which include cleaning to eliminate a safety hazard, preparation for painting or similar activity, maintaining a paint or material warranty, and as needed to meet federal, state or local health and safety standards.

Water-Based Air Conditioning

* Government facilities, common areas in malls, lobbies of multi-tenant office buildings and similar public spaces using cooling towers or other water-based cooling must keep the temperature at or above 78 degrees Fahrenheit.
* There are exemptions for health and safety, such as hospital facilities.

Remaining Restrictions

* Unless modified by the new Phase IV order, Phase III restrictions remain in place in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. This includes the use of irrigation wells and utilities not affected by the Phase IV order.

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