TAMPA, Fla. — Standing in front of a lush yard Monday morning in Tampa's Seminole Heights neighborhood, Mayor Jane Castor and other city leaders said they would be pushing for permanent restrictions on irrigation.
For some Tampa residents, this could mean crunchier lawns during the dry season but leaders said it's important for the future of the region's water supply.
Since December, the city of Tampa has been under an emergency once-a-week watering restriction since extreme drought conditions threatened the region's water supply. Because of the restriction, Tampa Water Director Rory Jones says the city has been able to conserve at least 1 billion gallons of water in that time.
While the rainy season is in full swing, usual daily downpours included, leaders say the region's water resources — rivers, lakes and reservoirs — have not caught up to typical levels.
And with drought conditions expected to be a recurring issue for the Tampa Bay area, doing something now to conserve water only has benefits, leaders posited.
Not only that but the water supply is also strained due to the recent population boom in Tampa and the surrounding areas. The same 82 million gallons a day allotment has been in place for more than 20 years, Tampa Councilmember Charlie Miranda said, and it's not expected to change anytime soon.
"Water is our most precious resource and we must take bold steps to conserve it, especially when Mother Nature's signals are clear," Castor said in a statement. "Given our drought-like conditions, making the once-a-week watering restrictions permanent is the sensible thing to do in order to ensure our water is used wisely, instead of wasted."
The proposal for permanent water restrictions will be discussed on Thursday, Aug. 1, at the Tampa City Council meeting. Members are expected to vote on the measure then, too.
In addition to pushing for a standard once-a-week watering policy, leaders urged residents to look at alternative landscaping to reduce irrigation needs. Something similar to Ryan Herbert's yard, where city leaders gathered to speak Monday.
Herbert's landscaping doesn't require any irrigation and cultivates native Florida plants rather than standard sod for his lawn.
What started as him being "lazy," Herbert said the landscaping has turned into "art."
Tampa water restrictions schedule
Tampa is under an emergency water irrigation restriction. Watering is prohibited between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Here's when you're able to water during the week:
- If your address (house number) ends in...
- ...0 or 1, water only on Monday
- ...2 or 3, water only on Tuesday
- ...4 or 5, water only on Wednesday
- ...6 or 7, water only on Thursday
- ...8 or 9*, water only on Friday ( *locations without a discernible address)
This applies to all customers watering with the city's drinking or well water. "Reclaimed water customers can water any day and any time, as long as it is not in a wasteful and unnecessary manner," the city said in a release.
Anyone who violates the restrictions are subject to a "three strikes and you're out" policy with fines ranging from $100 to $500. A so-called 3rd strike would also include a mandated court appearance, Jones said.