Zephyrhills loosens car wash water rules

Now residents can wash their cars in their driveways. This aligns with the county's water restrictions.

By CARY DAVIS

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 25, 2000

ZEPHYRHILLS -- Good news for dirty cars in Zephyrhills: You may soon get that bath you've been waiting for.

The City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to allow residents to wash their cars at home.

The council, which outlawed residential car washing last month, decided to lift the ban to bring the city under the same watering restrictions as unincorporated Pasco County. County commissioners earlier this month voted to allow residents to wash their cars at home.

For the past month, residents had to take their cars to commercial car washes, which weren't affected by the city's tighter water restrictions.

Under the amendment passed Monday night, residents will be allowed to wash their cars, trucks, boats, trailers, campers, mobile homes or any other type of motor vehicle on their property, provided they use a bucket and a hose with an automatic cut-off nozzle.

Monday's vote does not affect other watering restrictions in the city that were adopted because of the region's severe drought conditions. With water levels in the city's public wells 12 to 16 feet below normal, the council passed an emergency ordinance last month limiting outdoor watering to one day a week.

City residents with even-numbered addresses or those including the letters A through M can only water their lawns on Tuesday. Residents with odd-numbered addresses and those including the letters N through Z can water on Sundays.

All watering must be done before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.

First-time offenders in Zephyrhills are being warned and ordered to comply with the tighter restrictions. Second and subsequent violations carry fines of between $35 and $500.

Residents in unincorporated areas of the county have similar watering restrictions but face the prospect of a fine on the first offense.

ALSO ON MONDAY NIGHT: The council unanimously reappointed Fire Chief Robert Hartwig and Police Chief Robert Howell to two-year terms.

-- Staff writer Chase Squires contributed to this report.

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