With high temperatures and no rain, officials worry about demand overcoming supply.
By JANET ZINK
Published May 28, 2004
TAMPA - Just seven months after easing sprinkling restrictions, the Hillsborough County Water Department will ask commissioners to reinstitute once-a-week watering in the unincorporated county.
The heat has gone up in recent weeks but the rain has not come down. In the midst of an extended dry spell, pumping of water in southeastern Hillsborough is already near capacity.
The water department is asking southeast residents not to wait for a change in watering restrictions, and to voluntarily cut back on twice-a-week irrigation now.
If demand becomes more than the pumps can supply, the pressure could fall, creating the potential for contamination by allowing groundwater to seep into pipes and requiring a boil-water alert.
"It's hot weather and people are out there planting plants and grass and I understand that. But they're using a lot of water," Water Department director Mike McWeeny said Thursday.
Water officials will ask county commissioners next week to direct the county attorney to draft an emergency amendment to the water use ordinance. The item would then be considered for final approval at a commission meeting June 8.
The restrictions would not apply to residents of Tampa, Plant City or Temple Terrace, or county residents who are hooked up to city water lines.
It's possible that once the rainy season starts, the county would again permit watering twice a week, McWeeny said.
In southeastern Hillsborough, 72,000 customers are using about 42-million gallons of water on irrigation days, said county water conservation manager Norm Vik. Wells in the area can provide 46-million gallons. The problem is not as severe in northwest Hillsborough, McWeeny said.
In November 2003, the county commission adopted twice-a-week watering after more than three years of restricting irrigation to once a week.
"We've been watering one day a week as it is," Brandon resident Troy Neal said Thursday. Neal said he thinks he's trained his lawn to survive with less water.
Currently, people in unincorporated Hillsborough with even-numbered addresses, or addresses ending in the letters A-M, may water on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Odd-numbered addresses, or addresses ending in the letters N-Z, may water on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Watering is limited to once a day, either between midnight and 8 a.m., or between 6 p.m. and midnight.
Violators face penalties. Fines start at $105 for first-time offenders, and can reach $500 for repeat offenders. Failure to pay fines can result in a property lien.
