HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 03 09 Informational 101 Amendments Landscape Irrigation RuleCOMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM 101
March 9, 2009
Meeting
CONSENT
INFORMATIONAL I X
PUBLIC HEARING
REGULAR
~~
MGR /DEPT
A
REQUEST: Utility Department Informing the City Commission of approved amendments
to the St. Johns River Water Management District landscape irrigation rule.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is to inform the City Commission of approved
amendments approved by the St. Johns River Water Management District to their
landscape irrigation rule effective March 8, 2009 which limits landscape irrigation
to no more than two days a week during Daylight Saving Time and no more than
one day a week during Eastern Standard Time.
CONSIDERATIONS:
The St. Johns River Water Management District has amended their landscape
irrigation rule 40-C-2.042. Effective March 8, 2009, the new rule limits landscape
irrigation to no more than two days a week during Daylight Savings time and no more
than one day a week during Eastern Standard Time. The restrictions during Daylight
Saving Time are the same as previously existed and require no change to the City Code.
The changes reducing irrigation to no more than once a week during Eastern
Standard Time are new and will go into effect on November 1, 2009. In order to comply
with the District's new rule, staff has submitted a draft ordinance to the district for their
review. However, staff s inclusion of provisions to regulate reclaimed/alternative water
the same as potable and to also prohibit the use of potable water when reclaimed is
available has caused consternation at the District. Discussions are ongoing and we expect
to have a draft for Commission consideration in less than 60 days.
In order to proactively educate the public on this significant change and expand
the City's water conservation efforts, the City Manager has tentatively approved the
upgrading of an existing vacant position in the Utility Dept. to a Water Conservation
030909_COMM_Informational_l 01 _Irrigation_Restrictions
Information Agenda Item l01
March 9, 2009
Page 2
Coordinator position. This position will focus full time on meeting with high water usage
customers, enforcement of irrigation restrictions, and developing water conservation
programs to educate the public on WaterWise/Florida-friendly irrigation and landscaping
techniques.
We expect to post this position in March and have it filled by May 1, 2009 to have
ample time in the summer and fall to increase public awareness of the new once a week
restrictions that go into effect on November 1, 2009.
ATTACHMENTS:
SJRWMD Flyer
COMMISSION ACTION:
030909_COMM_Informational_l O I _Irrigation_Restrictions
~~ Watering Restrictions
The St. Johns River Water Management District's permanent
watering restrictions are designed to ensure the efficient use of
water for landscape irrigation. The restrictions allow enough
water to maintain healthy landscapes year-round.
"Landscape irrigation" means the outside watering of plants
in a landscape such as shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, ground
covers, plants, vines, gardens and other such flora that
are situated in such diverse locations as residential areas,
public, commercial and industrial establishments, and public
medians and right-of way. "Landscape irrigation" does
not include agricultural crops, nursery plants, cemeteries,
golf course greens, tees, fairways, primary roughs, and
vegetation associated with intensive recreational areas, such as
playgrounds, football, baseball and soccer fields.
Summary of the restrictions
• Irrigation is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• During daylight saving time 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.
• Residential irrigation at even numbered addresses is
allowed on Thursday and Sunday.
• Nonresidential irrigation is allowed on Tuesday and
Friday.
• During Eastern Standard Time irrigation is limited to no
more than one day per week on scheduled days.
• Residential irrigation at odd numbered addresses or no
addresses is allowed on Saturday.
• Residential irrigation at even numbered addresses is
allowed on Sunday.
• Nonresidential irrigation is allowed on Tuesday.
• Irrigation is limited to no more than'/4 inch of water per
zone per irrigation day.
• Irrigation is limited to no more than one hour per
irrigation zone per irrigation day.
• Irrigation is limited to only that amount necessary to
meet landscape needs.
• When reclaimed water is available for irrigation use, the
use of private irrigation wells is not authorized.
• Irrigation limitations apply to water withdrawn from
ground or surface water, from a private well or pump, or
from a public or private utility.
• Irrigation limitations apply to all landscape irrigation
not currently regulated by a consumptive use permit.
Typically, this includes residential, commercial and
industrial establishments.
• Persons irrigating with an automatic lawn irrigation
system installed after May 1991 shall install, maintain and
operate a rain sensor device or switch that overrides the
system when adequate rainfall has occurred.
Exceptions to the restrictions
Irrigation using amicro-spray, micro-jet, drip or bubbler
irrigation system is allowed anytime.
Irrigation of new landscape is allowed at any time of
day on any day for the initial 30 days and every other
day for the next 30 days for a total of one 60-day period,
provided that the irrigation is limited to the minimum
amount necessary for establishment.
Watering in of chemicals, including insecticides,
pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides and herbicides when
required bylaw, the manufacturer, or best management
practices, is allowed anytime within 24 hours of
application. Watering in of chemicals may not exceed'/4
inch of water per application except as otherwise required
bylaw, the manufacturer, or best management practices.
Irrigation systems may be operated anytime for
maintenance and repair purposes, not to exceed 20
minutes per hour per zone.
Irrigation using ahand-held hose equipped with a spray
nozzle that can be adjusted so water flows only as needed
is allowed anytime.
Discharge of water from awater-to-air air-conditioning
unit or other water-dependent cooling system is not
limited.
• The use of water from a reclaimed water system is
allowed anytime. A reclaimed water system includes
systems in which the primary source is reclaimed water,
which may or may not be supplemented from another
source during peak demand periods.
• The use of recycled water from wet detention treatment
ponds for irrigation is allowed anytime provided the
ponds are not augmented from any ground or off-site
surface water, or public supply sources.
St. Johns River Water Management District
~~ 4049 Reid Street • P.O. Box 1429 • Palatka, FL 32178-1429
Phone: (386) 329-4500 (Palatka headquarters) • On the Internet: www.sjnvmd.com
2009-02-13