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Water Management District Urges Residents To Skip A Week

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By SHERRI LONON IN THE LOOP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 28, 2009

When the temperatures drop and winter really sets in, lawns don't need to be watered nearly as much. In fact, holding out and watering only once every 10 to 14 days can save money and water.

With drought conditions continuing, that's the message the Southwest Florida Water Management District is trying to send home with its Skip A Week campaign.

"We're asking people to consider skipping a week if they check their lawn (and it's holding up well)," said Robyn Felix, the district's spokeswoman. "(The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) has done extensive research and their research says in the winter months, your lawn goes dormant and only needs water about every 10 to 14 days."

While most lawns will withstand periods without water, Felix does caution residents to look before they leap. She said residents should inspect grass blades to make sure they're healthy before they skip a day.

"If the grass blades are folded or they have a blue gray appearance, you do need to water," she said. "If you look at your lawn and it does pass the test" skip it.

According to BJ Jarvis, executive director of the Pasco County Extension Office, it is perfectly acceptable and even healthy to give lawns a watering break during the colder months.

"It's fine," she said. "At this time of the year plants of all kinds are (less demanding) and the temperatures are lower. We definitely support that skip a week philosophy. It's always too easy for us all to set those irrigation systems and forget them."

Jarvis said homeowners may want to reassess the situation in mid-March. "That's when plants start kicking into higher gear."

When this does happen, however, once a week watering restrictions still will be in place. This means homeowners will need to know their set watering days and times before they irrigate to avoid fines. Information on Pasco County's watering restrictions can be found online at pascocountyfl.net.

As of Jan. 14, aquifer levels in the central part of Florida were at -1.38 feet. The normal range is 0 to 6 feet. Rainfall as of Jan. 14 was 0.29 inches. The historic amount is 2.47 inches.

For more water-saving ideas, visit watermatters.org.

Editor Sherri Lonon can be reached at slonon@mediageneral.com or at (813) 948-4287.

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