40E-24.201. Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Conservation Measures

(1) The year-round landscape irrigation conservation measures contained in this chapter are applicable to all users as defined in subsection 40E-24.101(14), F.A.C., including permitted and exempt users under Chapter 40E-2, F.A.C., unless indicated otherwise herein. These conservation measures apply to all water sources, except that the use of reclaimed water, which may or may not be supplemented from another source, is allowed anytime. In addition to the requirements of this section, all permitted users under Chapter 40E-2, F.A.C., are required to maintain compliance with all CUP conditions and terms, including those designed to require the implementation of water conservation practices.

(2) Any restrictions or other measures declared pursuant to Chapter 40E-21, F.A.C., or related Board or Executive Director orders which are more restrictive than a measure contained within this chapter, shall supersede this rule for the duration of the applicable water shortage declaration.

(3) It shall be the duty of each water user to keep informed as to the landscape irrigation conservation measures presented within this chapter, which affect each particular water use.

(4) In addition to the specific conservation measures enumerated below, all wasteful and unnecessary water use as defined in subsection 40E-24.101(15), F.A.C., is prohibited.

(5) The following requirements or exceptions shall apply to all users unless specified otherwise herein:

(a) Landscape irrigation shall be prohibited daily between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., except as otherwise provided herein.

(b) Irrigation of new landscaping shall comply with the following provisions:

1. On the day the new landscaping is installed, the new landscaping may be irrigated once without regard to the normally allowable watering days and times. Irrigation of the soil immediately prior to the installation of the new landscaping is also allowable without regard to the normal allowable watering days and times.

2. The ninety (90) day period begins the day the new landscaping is installed. The new landscaping shall be installed within a reasonable time from the date of purchase, which may be demonstrated with a dated receipt or invoice.

3. Irrigation of new landscaping which has been in place for thirty (30) days or less may be accomplished on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

4. Irrigation of new landscaping which has been in place for thirty-one (31) to ninety (90) days may be accomplished on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

5. Irrigation of the new landscaping is limited to areas containing the new landscaping only. An entire zone of an irrigation system shall only be utilized for landscape irrigation under this paragraph if the zone in question is for an area that contains at least 50% new landscaping. If a zone contains less than 50% new landscaping, or if the new landscaping is in an area that will not typically be irrigated by an irrigation system, only the individual new plantings are eligible for additional irrigation under this paragraph. Targeted watering may be accomplished by low volume hand watering, or any appropriate method which isolates and waters only the new landscaping.

(c) Landscape irrigation systems may be operated during restricted days and/or times for cleaning, maintenance, and repair purposes with an attendant on site in the area being tested. Landscape irrigation systems may routinely be operated for such purposes no more than once per week, and the run time for any one test should not exceed 10 minutes per zone.

(d) Landscape irrigation for the purpose of watering-in fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, where such watering-in is recommended by the manufacturer, or by federal, state or local law, or best management practices, shall be allowed under the following conditions:

1. Such watering-in shall be limited to one application unless the need for more than one application is stated in the directions for application specified by the manufacturer; and

2. Such watering-in shall be accomplished during normally allowable watering days and times set forth in paragraph (5)(a), subsections (6) and (7) unless a professional licensed applicator has posted a temporary sign containing the date of application and the date(s) of needed watering-in activity.

(e) Any plant material may be watered using low volume irrigation, micro-irrigation, low-volume hand watering methods, and rain barrels, cisterns, or other similar rain-harvesting devices without regard to the watering days or times allowed pursuant to this section.

(6) Except as authorized in subsection (7), below, irrigation of existing landscaping shall comply with the following provisions:

(a) Even addresses, installations with irrigation systems that irrigate both even and odd addresses within the same zones, such as multi-family units and homeowners’ associations, and rights-of-way or other locations with no address as defined in subsection 40E-24.101(4), F.A.C., shall have the opportunity to accomplish necessary landscape irrigation only on Thursday and Sunday.

(b) Odd addresses as defined in subsection 40E-24.101(12), F.A.C., shall have the opportunity to accomplish necessary landscape irrigation only on Wednesday and Saturday.

(7) Users located in Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie counties shall irrigate existing landscaping in accordance with the provisions set forth in subsection (6), above, or as provided below.

(a) Even addresses, installations with irrigation systems that irrigate both even and odd addresses within the same zones, such as multi-family units and homeowners’ associations, and rights-of-way or other locations with no address as defined in subsection 40E-24.101(4), F.A.C., shall have the opportunity to accomplish necessary landscape irrigation only on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

(b) Odd addresses as defined in subsection 40E-24.101(12), F.A.C., shall have the opportunity to accomplish necessary landscape irrigation only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Rulemaking Authority 373.044, 373.113, 373.171 FS. Law Implemented 373.042, 373.0421, 373.171, 373.219, 373.223, 373.227 FS. History–New 6-12-03, Amended 3-15-10, 7-14-14.