Tampa Bay watering once a week looks like it’s helping, officials say

For lawn-loving Tampa Bay residents dutifully watering only once a week, here’s news:

Officials say combined with rain and cooler temperatures, there are signs that education and conservation are making a difference — particularly in Hillsborough County, the biggest water consumer in the region.

The rules — which assign once-a-week watering days by the last number of an address — were established for Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties last year under severe drought conditions across Tampa Bay following a record dry summer.

Those restrictions were just extended through July 1 by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. This month, parts of the region remained “abnormally dry,” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

At a recent meeting of Tampa Bay Water, the area’s wholesale water supplier, Hillsborough was praised for both getting the word out and appearing to get results.

“The months of December and January, it was cooler, it was wetter, and there was a lot of conservation messaging,” Warren Hogg, chief science officer with Tampa Bay Water, told the board at its Feb. 26 meeting. “And the county has done a fantastic job of getting out the message and enforcing restrictions, and we’ve seen significant declines in demand for those two months.”

The region’s rainfall deficit has averaged 5.4 inches over the last year, and outdoor watering — not other household uses such as showering — accounts for up to half of the water used at home.

By not watering on a day that it rains, a household can save 1,500 to 2,500 gallons, Tampa Bay Water said as part of the water conservation campaign.

“It’s working, and we need people to know it’s working,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen, chairperson of Tampa Bay Water.

Officials noted that the region is headed into the driest months of the year.

Those caught soaking their lawns on days or times when they’re not designated can receive a warning and, on a second violation, a citation with the fee determined by their city or county government.

In Hillsborough, a violation costs $100 and increases by $100 for each violation after that, with a maximum of $500. In Pinellas, the fine is $193, which is doubled for a subsequent violation. In Tampa, there are no warnings: the first citation is $100, the second is $200 and the third means a mandatory court appearance.

Since restrictions kicked in late last year, through February Hillsborough issued 507 warnings and 23 citations. Pinellas handed out 47 warnings and 90 citations. Tampa gave out 106 citations.

Approximately $180,000 has been spent getting the message out through radio ads, digital billboards and other means, officials said at the meeting.

Under the current rules, addresses ending in 0 or 1 can water on Mondays; ending in 2 or 3 on Tuesdays; 4 or 5 on Wednesdays; 6 or 7 on Thursdays; and 8 or 9 on Fridays. Watering is generally allowed before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. unless the city or county has more restrictive hours. Low-volume watering of plants and shrubs — such as hand watering or using a soaker hose — is allowed any day or time.