The City of Jacksonville Environmental and Compliance Department reminds Duval County residents that as they set their clocks back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 1, for Eastern Standard Time, they should also reduce lawn and landscape irrigation to no more than one day per week.   

Designed to conserve Jacksonville's water supply and reduce the amount of nutrients flowing into the St. Johns River, the City of Jacksonville enacted a new ordinance (Chapter 366) in July 2008 based upon the St. Johns River Water Management District's model ordinance.  The ordinances limit watering to one day a week during Eastern Standard Time, which are the cooler months of the year.  During this period, lawns and landscapes need less water to thrive.

Residential properties with an address that ends in an odd number may water on Saturday and those addresses which end in an even number may water on Sunday.  Non-residential irrigation is only permitted on Tuesday.

Watering is allowed only before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. year-round.  Some exceptions to the restrictions apply such as such as using a hand-held irrigation tool, micro-irrigation systems, maintenance and repair or watering to establish new landscaping.  

Violators of the irrigation schedule and fertilizer ordinance requirements may be issued a warning or a ticket ($50 or $250) or be subject to other enforcement.

Lawn watering will resume to two designated days per week beginning March 14, 2010.  

To learn more about the restrictions, visit the City of Jacksonville Environmental and Compliance Department at www.coj.net key word search "irrigation" or visit the St. Johns River Water Management District at www.sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions.

Residents are also reminded that the University of Florida Extension program offers Florida-friendly landscaping programs and assistance.  The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program provides educational outreach opportunities to homeowners, landscaping professionals, builders and developers on low maintenance and native plants and environmentally sustainable practices to enhance landscapes while reducing water consumption and saving money, time and energy.  To learn more or register, visit http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ or call (904) 387-8850.