Landscape irrigation can account for 60% of residential water use. Reducing irrigation is a great way to save money while leaving more water for our springs and future generations- View our Irrigation brochure or television commercial to learn how!
If you are installing a new irrigation system or modifying 50% or more of an existing one, you must comply with our Irrigation Efficiency Design and Maintenance Code.
Landscape Irrigation Restrictions
Irrigation restrictions are enforced year round and are explained below.
- Irrigation is not permitted between 10 am and 4 pm (when evaporation is greatest).
- Irrigation is limited to no more than one hour or 3/4 inch per irrigation zone per irrigation day.
- Restrictions apply to wells, lakes, creeks, and city water.
- Automatic irrigation systems must have a functioning rainfall shut off device which bypasses irrigation when there is sufficient moisture.
- The following are exempt: vegetable gardens, hand watering with a spray nozzle with an automatic shut off, reclaimed water, athletic fields, micro-irrigation, and new landscapes for the first 60 days.
Irrigation Maintenance
Irrigation systems have a lot of moving parts and require annual maintenance. A broken or missing sprinkler head can waste 8,000 gallons of water each month! As plants mature you can also cap irrigation heads that are no longer needed. Check out this
list of Florida Water Star Accredited Irrigation Professionals who can help you fix leaks and improve the efficiency of your system.
Rainfall shut off devices
All automatic sprinkler systems are required by law to have a functioning rainfall shut-off device that is designed to interrupt the cycle of an automatic irrigation system when a adequate rainfall has occurred. Traditional ones are small devices that are mounted in an open area where they are exposed to rainfall. These need to be checked annually, as they are prone to failing.
To further reduce wasteful watering during rain events, consider installing a Smart Evapotransportation Irrigation Controller (look for the waterSense label) or a Soil Moisture Sensor. These water saving technologies are required for systems installed after 10/1/2019 and below you will find resources to help you learn more.
Resources