Year-Round Landscape Rules

Mandatory Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures 40E-24 F.A.C.

The South Florida Water Management District is currently in the rulemaking process to amend Chapter 40E-24, F.A.C., Mandatory Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures for Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties, and to implement the rule amendments District-wide. The Rulemaking process aims to amend the year-round landscape irrigation measures and to implement more comprehensive, conservation-driven, irrigation rules District-wide. The purpose of these mandatory measures is to provide a framework for consistent implementation, ensure the long-term sustainability of the water resources of the region, increase water use efficiency and curtail or prevent wasteful water use practices through the adoption of ordinances that would include these measures, variance and enforcement provisions.

SFWMD Announces Public Rule Workshop:

District staff will host a public workshop on proposed year-round landscape irrigation conservation measures at the following date, time and location:

WORKSHOP: Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Conservation Measures Rule, on Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 2:30 p.m. at SFWMD Headquarters in West Palm Beach. (Will also be webcast) Meeting Notice  

DATE & TIME: 
October 7, 2009

PLACE:
South Florida Water Management District
B-1 Building, Auditorium
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Changes to Chapters 40E-2, and 40E-24, F.A.C., will be discussed at this workshop.

Final Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost

Summary

Approximately 2,000,000 individual landscape irrigators, 10,000 landscape water use permittees and other landscape irrigators are required to comply with the days and hours provisions of the rule. For most users the rule will probably have no discernable economic impact but some will experience circumstances in which they choose to make adjustments. The adjustments may include additional outlays for equipment and service, or dedication of additional time to their landscape or accepting some lessening in the satisfaction with their landscape. Most users are expected to apply less water which will reduce costs. The cost savings are more significant for those who irrigate with utility water but these cost reductions appear as reductions in water sales and revenues to the utilities who will then adjust by raising rates and re-planning plant expansions. Impacts of the rule have been reduced because of actions landscape irrigators have taken in complying with water shortages. Future actions will be influenced by the District's water conservation program and by irrigation limitations anticipated during future water shortages well as by this rule. Users of reclaimed water or water blended with reclaimed water are not affected except for restrictions on use during a 6 hour mid day window.

The SFWMD and local governments will incur costs in adopting and enforcing ordinances associated with the rule implementation. Water utilities will have to modify their conservation plans to incorporate the implementation of this rule.

No special provisions are made for small businesses and small governments as the rule is aimed at landscape irrigators down to the individual household level. The rule does not affect the irrigation of agriculture, the growing of nursery plants or the irrigation playing fields such as golf course play areas and athletic fields.

Public Rule Development workshops have been conducted at the following locations:

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures
January 23, 2009, 3:00 p.m.
South Florida Water Management District
B-1 Building, Storch Room
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures
April 22, 2008, 10:00 AM
South Florida Water Management District
B-1 Building, Auditorium
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures
April 23, 2008, 2:00 PM
South Florida Water Management District
Lower West Coast Regional Service Center
2301 McGregor Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures
April 25, 2008, 10:00 AM
South Dade Regional Library - Auditorium
Miami-Dade Public Library System
10750 SW 211 Street
Miami, FL 33189

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures
April 29, 2008, 2:00 PM
Osceola County Library, Lillie Room
211 East Dakin Avenue
Kissimmee, FL 34741

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures
Lower West Coast
May 19, 2008, 2:00 PM
South Florida Water Management District
Lower West Coast Regional Service Center
2301 McGregor Boulevard
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures
Lower East Coast
May 22, 2008, 2:00 PM
South Florida Water Management District
B-1 Building, Auditorium
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Measures and Ancillary Amendments
July 30, 2008, 2:30 PM
South Florida Water Management District
B-1 Building, Auditorium
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

Draft Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Rule

Draft Ancillary Amendments:

THE PERSON TO CONTACT REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:

Jesus Rodriguez, Lead Water Conservation Officer, South Florida Water Management District, Post Office Box 24680, West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680, Telephone 1-800-432-2045, ext. 6060 or (561)682-6060, email: jerodrig@sfwmd.gov. For procedural questions, please contact Jan Sluth, Paralegal, South Florida Water Management District, Post Office Box 24680, West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4680, Telephone 1-800-432-2045, ext. 6299 or (561)682-6299, email: jsluth@sfwmd.gov.