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Water Enforcement Stepped Up

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By SHERRI LONON IN THE LOOP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 25, 2009

The days of handholding are over. Pasco County will no longer give violators of its watering restrictions second chances.

"There are no warnings at this time," said Sue Chase, customer affairs manager for Pasco County Utility Services.

Violators of the county's watering restrictions are subject to an initial fine of $30, plus court fees. There is a fine of up to $500, plus court fees, and a mandatory appearance for the third violation.

Chase said the Southwest Florida Water Management District asked the county, and several others, to step up efforts in light of ongoing drought conditions and Pasco responded. Not only are those who break watering restriction rules subject to immediate fines, but the utilities department is also expanding its educational outreach, she said. To this end, the department is trying to work with high consumption users, is updating its Web site with conservation information and more.

"The community is responding," said Chase. "They are just really beginning to understand the severity (of the drought)."

Robyn Felix, Swiftmud's spokeswoman, said Pasco and its neighboring counties are facing a severe drought that is only getting worse.

"We're still in an extreme water shortage for the Tampa Bay area," said Felix. "We still have several months to go before the rainy season in June and our water supplies are extremely low."

While groundwater levels are low, there are other, more visible, markers Felix said.

"The biggest thing is that right now our rivers (Hillsborough and the Alafia) are at extremely low levels" and the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir is tapped out, she said. "All that leaves is the desalination plant and ground water sources."

The hope is to get people to conserve enough that extra pulls from groundwater sources will not become necessary, she said.

"Using extra ground water is the last resort," she said. Using extra groundwater "can cause damage to the environment. We don't want to do that."
Watering restrictions that went into last place year were hoped to lower consumption by about 10 percent, but this hasn't happened. Felix said only about a 5 percent reduction has been realized to date.

"We asked all the local governments to step up their enforcement ... stop issuing warnings," she said.

While Pasco's enforcers of the watering restrictions won't show mercy any longer, Chase said every effort is being made to make sure residents understand the rules and what they can do to help with the shortage.

"(This is) very serious and at the same time we really want to work with our customers and educate them," she said.

For more information about Pasco's watering restrictions, call (727) 847-8131 or (727) 815-7092. To report violators, call the county's code enforcement department at (727) 847-8110 or at (800) 368-2411, Ext. 8110. Information about conservation and restrictions can also be found on the county's Web site at pascocountyfl.net. Swiftmud also offers information on conservation at watermatters.org.

Pasco County Watering Restrictions
Pasco County residents may water with potable on the following days based on the last number in their physical addresses:

• 0-1Monday

• 2-3 Tuesday

• 4-5 Wednesday

• 6-7Thursday

• 8-9Friday

• Mixed or no address Friday

Watering is allowed between the hours of 12:01 a.m. to 8 a.m. or 6 to 11:59 p.m. on designated days.

Reclaimed water users can water on the following days during the same times as the potable water users:

• 0-1Tuesday and Friday

• 2-3 Thursday and Saturday

•• 4-5 Monday and Friday

• 6-7Tuesday and Saturday

• 8-9Wednesday and Sunday

• Mixed or no address Wednesday and Sunday.

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

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