Board of County Commissioners MeetingOctober 13, 2009

PROPOSED LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION ORDINANCE

Purpose

CONSERVE WATER BY ADOPTING ST. JOHNS RIVER AND SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION RESTRICTIONS

Local Government Ordinances implementing

SJRWMD Watering Restrictions

CountiesMarion, Lake, Flagler

CitiesCocoa, Eustis, Fruitland Park, Groveland, Howey-In-The-Hills, Lady Lake, Lake Mary, Longwood, Macclenny, Mascotte, Minneola, Mount Dora, St. Augustine, Tavares, Winter Garden, Winter Park

SJRWMD Watering

Restrictions

Time of Year Homes with Odd Numbered or no Address

Homes with even numbered Address

Non-residential properties

Daylight Savings Time

Wednesday/Saturday Thursday/Sunday Tuesday/Friday

Eastern Standard Time

Saturday Sunday Tuesday

EXEMPTIONS

•Micro-irrigation Systems•Irrigation of new landscape•Watering in of chemicals•Maintenance and repair purposes•Hand-held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle•Reclaimed water ; water from wet detention treatment ponds; water-to-air air-conditioning unit

Variances to Day of the Week

•Alachua County•Substantial economic, health or other hardship

•Water Management Districts•Installation of soil moisture sensors in compliance with 373.62, Florida Statutes

Automatic Lawn Sprinklers

Any person who purchases and installs an automatic landscape irrigation system must properly install, maintain, and operate technology that inhibits or interrupts operation of the system during periods of sufficient moisture.

Enforcement

In addressing residential violations county staff shall provide an educational approach that emphasizes environmental awareness in order to achieve compliance prior to initiating enforcement action with the use of the provisions of Chapter 24

Enforcement

Section 79.04 Irrigation Schedule Class I $50

Section79.08 Automatic lawn sprinklers Class II $75

ISSUES

•Proposed adoption of existing SJRWMD rules for unincorporated Alachua County

•SRWMD proposed changes are substantially in agreement with the existing restrictions in the SJRWMD.

•After adoption for unincorporated Alachua County, encouragement for cities to “opt in” to County ordinance

•Staffing and budget constraints on enforcement

Staff Recommendation

• Adopt proposed ordinance adopting the St. Johns River Water Management District’s model code for landscape irrigation

Public Comments

Board of County Commissioners MeetingOctober 13, 2009

PROPOSED LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION ORDINANCE