Once-a-week watering restrictions begin Nov. 4th

The end of daylight savings marks the beginning of one-day-a-week watering for Orange County and continued steps to water conservation for Orange County Utilities. By limiting the number of days of irrigation during Eastern Standard Time, Orange County Utilities has seen a decrease in water usage by its customers.

Orange County, FL – Sunday, November 4 will begin Orange County Utilities’ third year of one-day-a-week watering restrictions for Orange County. In order to comply with the rules of St. Johns River and South Florida Water Management Districts, Orange County adopted Water Conservation Ordinance No. 2010-02 limiting the number of days and hours irrigation can occur each week. Since adopting the ordinance, Orange County Utilities has seen a substantial drop in water usage for the county.

“We are pleased that since the implementation of the one-day-a-week watering restrictions during the cooler months of the year, the average homeowner has reduced irrigation watering by 4,000 gallons per year,” said Jacqueline Torbert, manager for Orange County Utilities’ Water Division. “Grass goes dormant during this time of year so the need for irrigation decreases tremendously. This should put customers at ease when it comes to the health of their yard.”

From Sunday, November 4, 2012, to Sunday, March 10, 2013, homes and nonresidential properties in Orange County are asked not to water between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the following days: homes with odd-numbered or no addresses water only on Saturday, homes with even-numbered addresses water only on Sunday, and nonresidential properties water only on Tuesday. Watering is restricted to no more than one hour per zone. These restrictions apply to private wells and pumps, ground or surface water, and water from public and private utilities.