SFWMD Water Shortage Orders and Year Round Landscape Irrigation Rule SFWMD Water Shortage Orders and Year Round Landscape Irrigation Rule Terrie Bates, Assistant Deputy Executive Director Regulatory & Public Affairs December 1, 2009

Landscape Irrigation Restrictions Pre-2003: Only limitation - “no watering between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.” 2003: Rule limiting landscape irrigation to 3-days per week - Lee, Collier & Charlotte Counties No days-per-week limit elsewhere 2006 – 2009: In response to worsening drought conditions, Water Shortage Orders issued limiting landscape irrigation 2

Water Shortage Orders November December 2007 Water Shortage Orders in effect throughout most of South Florida Landscape irrigation limits varying from 1-day per week to 2-days per week  Phase II  Phase III

Water Shortage Orders Expanded December 2007 Jurisdiction split between South Florida & St. Johns St. Johns rule limiting landscape irrigation to 2-days per week had been in effect for several years To minimize public confusion and promote consistency in messaging, South Florida Water Shortage Order required water users in Orange & Osceola to follow the St. Johns rule POLK SFWMD

Water Shortage Orders Expanded December 2007 Jurisdiction split between South Florida & Southwest Florida Southwest Water Shortage Order limiting irrigation to 2-days per week had been in effect for sometime. To minimize public confusion and promote consistency in messaging, South Florida Water Shortage Order required water users in Polk & Highlands to follow the Southwest Order POLK SFWMD

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule Rulemaking process started in July, 2007 to expand existing Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule to entire District Postponed until broader, comprehensive Water Conservation Program developed in Sept 2008 Rulemaking re-started in October

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule Water Shortage Orders remain in effect as South Florida’s Irrigation Rule is finalized St. Johns rule recently amended to limit irrigation to one-day per week during eastern standard time Water Shortage Order for Orange County revised in November, 2009 to reference current St. Johns amended rule 7

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule approved by South Florida Governing Board in November, 2009 Effective date: mid-January days per week in Charlotte, Highlands, Orange, Osceola, Okeechobee & Polk Counties 2- or 3-days per week in southern Florida – may be revisited by Governing Board at any time 8

Transition from Water Shortage Orders to Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule Need to minimize public confusion, promote consistent messaging and facilitate implementation / enforcement in counties where jurisdiction is split South Florida rule provides for Local Government Option Local government may enact ordinance to achieve a uniform schedule (i.e. 1-day per week) within its jurisdiction 9

Summary Water Shortage Order remains in effect in Orange County requires water users to follow St. Johns River Water Management District Rule South Florida Year Round Landscape Irrigation Rule anticipated to become effective in January, 2010 Rule allow Local Government Option to allow for uniform schedule within counties with split water management jurisdiction 10

Questions? 11

Revised Water Shortage Order for Reedy Creek Improvement District Reedy Creek Improvement District split between Orange and Osceola County Water Shortage Order amended to require Reedy Creek to follow South Florida 2-day per week limits 12

South Florida Irrigation Limits 13 Consistency with other Water Management Districts USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range

South Florida Irrigation Limits 14 Consistency with other Water Management Districts USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range USDA Hardiness Zones and Average Annual Minimum Temperature Range