Hillsborough County urges limits for reclaimed water

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 25, 2000

TAMPA -- Heavy demand for reclaimed water shut down the system in three northern Hillsborough subdivisions Wednesday, prompting county officials to ask that reclaimed water customers cut back their sprinkling to once a week.

Pumps automatically shut off to Avila, North Lakes and Lake Heather when tanks and ponds holding reclaimed water dropped below safe levels to operate the equipment, said John Fischer, a water department spokesman. Reclaimed water service should resume this morning.

Officials want the 5,200 residential customers of reclaimed water to voluntarily cut back their sprinkling to the same days mandated for users of potable water: addresses ending with 0 and 1 on Mondays, 2 and 3 on Tuesdays, 4 and 5 on Wednesdays, 6 and 7 on Thursdays, 8 and 9 or no address on Fridays.

Many large commercial users of reclaimed water have already cut back, Fischer said. Avila's golf course, which was using 800,000 gallons daily, has cut back to less than 50,000.

The county produces an average of 20-million gallons of reclaimed water daily, Fischer said.

Officials say they are prepared to ask that county commissioners impose the once-a-week rule on reclaimed water customers if the voluntary restrictions don't work.

"Basically, we don't have the water," Fischer said.

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