Lawn Watering Restrictions

We've been in a drought and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is ordering customers to strictly follow local irrigation rules.

Irrigation with potable, well or surface water is once per week and reclaimed up to twice per week, though once a week is encouraged. No irrigation between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The City of Zephyrhills follows Pasco County's watering restrictions.

Water Restrictions Using Potable Water

Watering Days and Times

Irrigation of established lawns and landscaping is authorized for one day per week, per Pasco County

Establishment of New Plant Material

New plant material may be watered for a 60-day establishment period with these allowances:

From day 1 to day 30, new plant material may be watered any day of the week.
From day 31 to day 60, new plant material may be watered 3 days each week, according to the schedule below.
An entire irrigation zone may be used only if the zone being watered contains 50% or more new plant material.
Partial zones or dispersed plantings may only be watered by hose but not with automatic irrigation.
On the day of installation, new turf or plant material may be irrigated at any time of day; however, irrigation during permitted hours is preferred.

What You Can Do

Here are some things that you can do to save water at your home.

5 Easy Water-Saving Practices

Replace showerheads with 2 gallons/minute or less units.
Replace all sink faucets with 1.5 gallons/minute or less aerators.
Check that the irrigation system is free from leaks and breaks.
Adjust spray heads to minimize spray on sidewalks and driveways.
Adjust irrigation timer to Pasco County irrigation restrictions.

Landscaping Practices

Maintain 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch in landscaped beds.
Direct downspouts to empty onto landscaped beds or turf grass.
Keep root balls a minimum of 2.5 feet on center from the foundation of your home.
Plant trees to shade 30-50% of the yard when mature.
Replace plants that are not Florida-Friendly and have much higher water demands.
Replace portions of turf landscaping in your yard with Florida-Friendly landscape.

Irrigation Practices

Ensure a rain shut-off device is installed and functioning.
Irrigate turf grass and landscaped beds in separate zones.
Check that all sprinkler heads rise above the height of landscaping.
Replace spray nozzles with high-efficiency nozzles.
If using more than 15,000 gallons per month for an average sized home, have system checked by a professional for system efficiency.
Check that similar sprinklers are matched in each zone; never put spray and rotor heads in the same zone.

Household Practices

Replace older toilets that are 3.5 gallons per flush or greater with new high-efficiency toilets.
Have a centrally located hot water tank.
Ensure all fixtures and appliance connections are reinforced. This will limit a common source of in-home leaks.

Other Helpful Resources

For more information about water restrictions and water conservation, please contact your local utility or visit the District’s website.