|
Lee County Adopts New Water Conservation Ordinance
Jun 14, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LEE COUNTY ADOPTS NEW WATER CONSERVATION ORDINANCE Lee County Board of County Commissioners has adopted the new "Lee County Water Conservation Ordinance." This ordinance incorporates the South Florida Water Management District's Water Shortage Plan and Mandatory Year Round Restrictions. This ordinance will only allow landscape irrigation two days a week between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. The ordinance includes all persons, whether from public or privately owned water systems, private wells, or private connections with surface water bodies in unincorporated areas of Lee County. Those with even addresses will be allowed to irrigate only on Thursday and/or Sundays. Those with odd addresses will be allowed to irrigate only on Wednesday and/or Saturdays. Reuse customers are allowed to irrigation seven (7) days a week, but must water between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. Other exemptions to this ordinance are the allowance of low volume irrigation systems. These systems can be used seven (7) days a week, except during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Low volume irrigations systems are systems such as misting or drip irrigation. Low-volume hand watering methods that are fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzles and athletic playfields are also exempt from the ordinance. All sworn county law enforcement, police officers, or deputy sheriffs can enforce this ordinance. In addition, the Lee County Manager may also delegate enforcement responsibility to Lee County Utilities' personnel, code enforcement, along with other agencies and departments of County Government. Violators of the ordinance can be penalized with the following fines: Written warnings may be given during the first 30 days during the initial stages of a water shortage condition or a water shortage emergency. No more than one (1) written warning shall be given before fines will be imposed. Our precious resource is being wasted with excessive irrigation. Approximately 50% of our water produced is used for these purposes. We must irrigate intelligently and help conserve our supplies. |