Citrus County Utilities: March water conservation
WATERING / IRRIGATION
Spring arrives March 20th. Predictions are warm and dry. It is time to adjust the irrigation schedule to water once per week. If you have a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller, there is no need to make adjustments because the controller will automatically increase runtimes to meet spring water needs. But, like all irrigation systems, do verify the irrigation ran on its scheduled day.
In March, one scheduled irrigation of 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch each week. 1/2-inch of irrigation is about 30 minutes per rotor head zone and 15 minutes per spray head zone.
Per restrictions, allowable watering is limited to one day per week, either before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m., but not both, as follows. Your weekly watering day is determined by the last number of your street address:
WATERING / IRRIGATION SCHEDULE
Addresses ending in: 0 or 1 - water on Monday
Addresses ending in: 2 or 3 - water on Tuesday
Addresses ending in: 4 or 5 - water on Wednesday
Addresses ending in: 6 or 7 - water on Thursday
Addresses ending in: 8 or 9 and also locations with a mix of addresses, as in an apartment complex, etcetera, or no address - water on Friday
FIX A LEAK WEEK - THIRD WEEK OF MARCH
Because minor water leaks account for nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted yearly in U.S. homes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program promotes Fix a Leak Week the third week of March each year. Fix a Leak Week is an annual reminder to Americans to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.
CHECK YOUR WATER METER TO SEE IF YOU HAVE A LEAK
10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. The County’s water meter is a great tool to determine if you have a leak. Begin by turning off all water using fixtures inside and outside the house. Don’t forget the icemaker and auto-pool filler. Now, write down the numbers on your water meter. The meter is typically near the road under a black cover. Next, wait 15 minutes, and then write the numbers again. If they change, there is a leak.
If you know where your home’s indoor-water shut off is (NOT the County’s shut-off in the box mentioned above), turn it off and perform the test again. If the water meter numbers stay the same this time, then the leak is inside. If the numbers change, the issue is outside. Toilets and irrigation systems are the most common leak culprits. *See how to check for a toilet leak below.
FIX A LEAK WEEK EVENTS
In addition to using the meter to check for leaks, here are some more opportunities to get involved this Fix A Leak Week:
Thursday, March 10, 2022, 12:00 - 3:00 pm
Sugarmill Woods Florida-Friendly Landscaping and Water Conservation Expo, Sugarmill woods Country Club, 1 Douglas St., Homosassa, Florida. Booth-style event. Experts on hand to answer your questions. Plant raffle and giveaways. Call 352-527-7684
Thursday, March 17, 2022, 12:30 - 3:00 pm
Terra Vista at The Villages of Citrus Hills residents only,
Florida-Friendly Landscaping and Water Conservation Expo, 2400 N. Terra Vista Blvd., Hernando, Florida. Call 352-746-6121, Booth-style event. Experts on hand to answer your questions. Plant raffle and giveaways.
Saturday, March 19, 2022, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Shrimpapalooza festival. Stop by our booth at the festival near the Homosassa Civic Club, 5530 S. Mason Creek Rd. in Old Homosassa, FL, to pick up leak detection tablets and get Florida-Friendly Landscaping advice. Visit www.shrimpapalooza.com.
*HOW TO CHECK YOUR TOILET FOR LEAKS
Does your toilet have a silent leak? Drop a dye tablet (or 10 drops of food coloring) into your toilet’s tank and wait 10 minutes. If the color appears in the bowl, you have a leak that can probably be fixed by replacing a worn toilet flapper. Don’t forget to flush afterwards to remove any leftover dye.
Dye tablets available at the utility conservation office in Lecanto.
FIX YOUR TOILET FLAPPER
Want an Easy Fix to Save Water? Flip Your Flapper
Do you know what a toilet flapper is? This simple rubber device holds water in the tank, then releases water into the bowl when you flush. It needs to be replaced at least every 5 years or your toilet could leak. Pro Tip: Before shopping for a new flapper, remove the old one and take it with you. This will ensure you get the right replacement. Some flappers have a foam float on the chain that needs replacing too. (See diagram.)
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PLANTS IN MARCH
Annuals/Bedding Plants:
Replace declining winter annuals with varieties such as angelonia, gazania, and salvia that will provide color now and into the summer months.
See Annuals: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_annual_landscape_plants.
Azaleas:
Prune azaleas just after plants finish blooming to shape or produce a fuller plant.
See Azalea: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_azalea.
Vegetables:
Warm-season crops, such as beans, peppers, squash, and others can be planted now.
See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening.
Herbs:
In addition to their culinary value, many herbs are ornamental and attract butterflies to the garden. See Herbs: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_herbs.
Bulbs:
Plant caladium for a showy tropical display all summer.
See Bulbs for Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_bulbous_flowers.
For more details, visit: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/florida-gardening-calendar/.
LANDSCAPING
Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program
Join a FREE online workshop. Upcoming topics include 9 Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principles, Lawns in Central Florida and Managing Pests. For details and to register, go to: https://ccufflprogram.eventbrite.com.
Need some Florida-Friendly Landscaping advice? Call FFL Coordinator Steven Davis at 352-527-5708.
REBATES FOR WATER SAVING PRODUCTS WITH EPA WATER SENSE LOGO
Rebates Available for products with a EPA Water Sense logo, see below. Submit rebate applications to: https://citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/rebate-application-2022/. If you have questions, call 352-527-7669.
Rain Sensor Replacement - $50
Water Sense-Labeled Toilet - up to $100 (pre-approval required to replace up to two pre-1995 toilets per household).
Water Sense-Labeled Irrigation Controller - $100 (auto-adjusting controller)