Current Water Use Restrictions and Water Conservation Tips
MODIFIED PHASE I WATER SHORTAGE
ONE-DAY-PER-WEEK OUTDOOR IRRIGATION RESTRICTIONS and SCHEDULE
Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties will be limited to once-per-week lawn watering beginning 1 December 2023. Restrictions are in effect through 1 July 2024. MODIFIED PHASE I OUTDOOR IRRIGATION RESTRICTIONS INCLUDES THE CITY OF PLANT CITY.
UPDATE - 28 February 2024 - Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order remains in effect Districtwide. This includes Plant City. District Modified Phase I water shortage watering restrictions went into effect 1 December 2023.
Even though there was above-average rainfall during the winter months(Nov 2023 - Jan 2024) there is still a 12-month rainfall deficit Districtwide of about 7.4 inches. While there have been some short-term improvements with rainfall, drier-than-normal conditions continue for most of the Tampa Bay area.
Restrictions apply to all City of Plant City water customers. It’s important to know your lawn watering days and hours and ensure irrigation system are operating properly. Repair broken pipes and misaligned/broken sprinkler heads. Check and ensure irrigation system timer settings are correct and a rain shutoff device, such as a rain sensor, is installed and working properly. Outdoor irrigation restrictions and schedule apply to all water sources, including private irrigation wells, automatic and manual operation irrigation systems, portable hose-end sprinklers, surface waters and private water systems.
Plant City’s outdoor irrigation restrictions and water conservation measures are established by adopting and utilizing Southwest Florida Water Management District rules and directives. For more information, please visit Water 101 For Homeowners
ALLOWABLE WATERING DAY & TIMES (HOURS)
Watering Violations - Plant City Police Department Non-Emergency Number - 813-757-9200
One-Day-Per-Week - Based on Address
Addresses (House Number) ends in:
- 0 or 1 - Monday
- 2 or 3 - Tuesday
- 4 or 5 - Wednesday
- 6 or 7 - Thursday
- 8 or 9 - Friday – Includes locations without a discernible address such as rights-of-way and common areas inside a subdivision
City Properties, Rights-of Way & Medians – One Day Per Week
Allowable Watering Times (Hours)
- Properties under two acres in size – only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- Properties two acres or larger – only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
- Low-volume watering of plants and shrubs (micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering) - allowed any day and any time.
New Lawn & Landscape
30-30 (60-Day) establishment period begins the day new plant material is installed
Limited to areas containing new plant material only
An entire zone of an irrigation system may only be used for establishment period watering if the zone in question contains at least 50% new plant material
On the day new plant material is installed watering is allowed on any day at any time
Except as noted above. New plant material watering is prohibited between
10 AM and 4 PM
60-Day Establishment Period Days
1-30: All addresses – any day during allowable watering hours
31-60:
Even addresses – Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
Odd addresses – Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
Locations without a discernable address – Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Any person who purchases and installs an automatic irrigation system
must install, maintain and operate technology which inhibits or interrupts
operation of the system during period of sufficient rainfall
An example is a rain sensor
HAND-WATERING & MICRO-IRRIGATION
Plants (other than lawn) can be watered on any day at any time
PRESSURE WASHING | VEHICLE WASHING | FOUNTAINS
There are no specific restrictions for these water uses. Please be as efficient as possible
COMMERCIAL | INDUSTRIAL | AGRICULTURAL
Follow published industry standards, best management and water conservation practices. Users governed by a water use permit, shall continue to comply with all permit conditions
RECLAIMED WATER
Irrigation is allowed on any day, except between 10 AM and 4 PM
PLANT CITY WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS, OFFERINGS & RESOURCES
- Water saving devices
- Florida-Friendly Landscaping information
- Free residential utility customer irrigation system evaluations
High water consumption on your utility bill – It could be your irrigation system
BASIC WAYS WE CAN ALL SAVE WATER
Saving Water Indoors
- Check for leaks in toilets, faucets, showerheads
- Turn off all faucets and water-using appliances
- Write down the water meter reading. Wait 30 minutes. If there is a different reading or if the water flow indicator is moving...you may have a leak
Install low-flow showerheads – Some use less than 2 gallons of water per minute
A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. Add 4 or 5 drops of food coloring into the tank and wait 15 minutes. If colored water appears in the bowl, there is probably a leak. A new flapper may take care of some toilet leaks
Saving Water Outdoors
An estimated 50% of the water consumed by Florida households is through outdoor water use. Predominant use is irrigation of lawn and landscape via in-ground irrigation systems.
Check for leaks in irrigations systems, garden hoses and outdoor faucets
Only water lawn and landscape on allowable days during allowable times
If you have an irrigation system repair broken sprinkler heads and
make sure timer settings are set correctly
Use an automatic shutoff nozzle on a garden hose – A garden hose without an automatic shufoff nozzle can pour out over 500 gallons of water an hour
HOW DOES THE CITY SAVE WATER?
Part of the City’s water conservation efforts includes regulatory reporting of all residential, commercial/industrial and municipal water usage annually. Monthly reports are also used for monitoring irrigation of all City properties and rights-of-way. The City also promotes water conservation by incorporating Florida-Friendly Landscaping, drought tolerant and native plants on City properties
