at the South Florida Water Management District (District) issued an Order Granting Variance under Sections 120.542, 373.083, and 373.62, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 40E-24, Florida Administrative Code (Order 2011-014-DAO-WU), dated February 10, ...

WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS
South Florida Water Management District

The South Florida Water Management District hereby gives notice:
at the South Florida Water Management District (District) issued an Order Granting Variance under Sections 120.542, 373.083, and 373.62, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 40E-24, Florida Administrative Code (Order 2011-014-DAO-WU), dated February 10, 2011, to the City of Port St. Lucie, located in St. Lucie County. The Petition for Variance (Application 101006-15) was received by the District on October 6, 2010. Notice of receipt of the Petition was published in the Florida Administrative Weekly, Vol. 36, No. 42, on October 22, 2010. This Order provides a variance for the City of Port St. Lucie. Specifically, the Order grants a variance from paragraph 40E-24.201(7)(a), F.A.C., requiring landscape irrigation on specific days of the week for properties identified in Exhibits “B” and “C” of the Order. Generally, the order sets forth the basis of the Governing Board decision to grant the variance, as follows: 1) Pursuant to Section 373.62(7), Fla. Stat., the Legislature authorized the granting of a variance from day of the week irrigation restrictions to those entities utilizing smart irrigation systems that have soil moisture sensors with remote monitoring and adjustment capabilities. Port St. Lucie has demonstrated that the irrigation system it employs at the properties identified in Exhibits “B” and “C” of the Order meet the requirements of Section 373.62(7), Fla. Stat.; and 2) It would be a substantial hardship to force a sophisticated computer-controlled irrigation system with remote monitoring and soil moisture sensors such as the one employed by Port St. Lucie to conform to day-of-the-week irrigation restrictions and result in the loss of Port St. Lucie’s investment in the system.
A copy of the Order or additional information may be obtained by contacting:
the Water Resource Regulation Department, during the normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except legal holidays, at 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406; by telephone at [phone]; by e-mail at [e-mail]; or, by accessing the District’s website (www.sfwmd.gov) using the Application/Permit Search on the ePermitting page.