County may clamp down on the hoses

County officials say new watering restrictions should be enforced. Pasco has gone easy on offenders so far.

By ALISA ULFERTS

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2000

NEW PORT RICHEY -- Pasco County officials can't make it rain, but they can stop the sprinklers.

The county could become the next local government to further restrict lawn watering times as drought conditions continue erasing neighborhood ponds and coloring grasses brown. The city of Tampa and Hillsborough County already have reduced the number of days per week that residents can water to one.

Pasco County Commissioners Ann Hildebrand and Steve Simon, the county's two designees on the Tampa Bay Water board, think Pasco should follow suit.

"I certainly would support (that)," Hildebrand said Friday during a special workshop in which she and Simon discussed the water board's agenda.

"I don't have a sprinkler system. God waters my lawn."

County Administrator John Gallagher is expected to bring up the matter at today's County Commission meeting.

Now county residents with even-numbered addresses can water their lawns Tuesdays and Saturdays in the morning and evening. Odd-numbered houses can water on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Gallagher said he requests just one thing of commissioners who want to toughen up: "My suggestion is, don't do voluntary if you do something," Gallagher said. Voluntary water restrictions just mean his staff spends time knocking on doors but can't cite people who don't follow the suggested watering times.

Simon agreed the county would have to require the tougher restrictions.

"Right, that (voluntary) doesn't hold water -- no pun intended."

Talk of further restricting water use comes as Simon succeeded Monday in persuading a majority of Tampa Bay Water board members to delay a vote on a $78-million water treatment plant. Simon wanted the delay so the board can hold a workshop on his plan to amend the master water plan to speed a second desalination plant and further reduce dependence on groundwater and rainwater sources.

While other counties have been active in cracking down on lawn watering offenders, Pasco has not, county officials said.

Said Simon:"That is not a good position for Pasco County to be in."

-- Staff writer Alisa Ulferts covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or (800) 333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is ulferts@sptimes.com.

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