Further Mandatory Water Restrictions
Imposed
Mandatory water restrictions have
been in effect in South Florida since March 22,
2007. Prompted by the further lack of rainfall and
the rapidly receding Lake Okeechobee levels, Phase
III Water Restriction will again be in effect on
January 15, 2008.
"Today's order represents the most
stringent landscape irrigation measures that this
agency has ever had to impose, but we believe it
will significantly help to protect and stretch our
regional water supplies," said SFWMD Governing Board
Chairman Eric Buermann. "We appreciate the public's
understanding and compliance with these necessary
restrictions that will result in measurable water
savings."
Phase III is classified as an extreme
water shortage declaration. Water-use restrictions
DO NOT apply to the use of 100% reclaimed water.
Water use restrictions DO apply to water from ALL
OTHER SOURCES: public utilities; private wells; and
all surface waters such as canals, lakes, ponds and
rivers. All water needs to
be conserved no matter the source.
Phase III requires that residents
will be limited to a one-day-per-week irrigation
schedule. The following are general guidelines for
homes with less than five acres of land. These
restrictions must be followed:
-
Odd
street addresses may irrigate lawns and
landscapes on Mondays between 4:00
a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. and 8:00
p.m.
-
Even
street addresses may irrigate lawns and
landscapes on Thursdays between 4:00
a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. and 8:00
p.m.
-
Residents and businesses with more than five
acres have expanded irrigation hours,
between 12:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or
4:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on their designated
irrigation day.
-
Hand-watering with one hose fitted with an
automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed for 10
minutes per day for landscape stress relief and
to prevent plant die-off.
-
Low-volume irrigation, including the use of drip
and microjet systems that apply water directly
to plant root zones, is not restricted but
should be voluntarily reduced.
-
Additional watering days and times will be
allocated for the establishment of new lawns and
landscapes.
-
No restrictions apply to other outside water
uses, such as for car and boat washing, pressure
cleaning of paved surfaces, decorative fountains
and water-based recreation (e.g. swimming pools,
water slides).
-
Golf courses must reduce their allocated water
use by 45 percent.
Irrigation Inspection Program will be
made available until February 15, 2008 to all
Village of Wellington residents and Utility
Customers who have automatic sprinkler systems. An
Irrigation Technician will review the resident’s
current irrigation system settings and show the
resident how to adjust, if needed, to comply with
the current water restrictions. Please call
561-791-4003 between the hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
to schedule an appointment.
Village of Wellington Code Compliance
Officers regularly work nights and weekends and will
be enforcing water restrictions. Due to the
severity of the drought, warnings will not be
issued. Fines for violations of mandatory water
restrictions are based on the adopted fee schedule
in the Village Code of Ordinances. Fines for
violations in the Village of Wellington are $75.00
for the first offense and $250.00 for repeat
violations.
For additional information refer to
the Village’s website at www.ci.wellington.fl.us or
Channel 18 For full details of specific restrictions
or water conservation tips, please visit the SFWMD
website: www.sfwmd.gov.
Mayor Tom Wenham, Vice Mayor Bob
Margolis, along with Council Members Lizbeth
Benacquisto, Laurie Cohen and Dr Carmine Priore, are
pleased to bring exciting and innovative programs to
the Village, always looking for ways to improve
services for all its residents. For information on
other Village programs, events, and activities,
please visit the website at
www.ci.wellington.fl.us or watch Channel 18 for
the latest Village happenings.
