April is Water Conservation Month; poster contest winners
Water-wise News, Citrus County Utilities, Water Conservation
Irrigation
During April-November: Your lawn should receive one scheduled irrigation of 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch each week. This is about 30-45 minutes per rotor head zone and 15-20 minutes per spray head zone.
Per Florida Statute, a functioning rain sensor is required on all automatic irrigation systems. Irrigation should turn off after receiving 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch of rain. Rain sensors typically dry and allow normal irrigation after about 18 hours. Bypassing the sensor during this time period to apply additional water is wasteful, as it provides no additional benefit to the lawn.
Rebates are available for rain sensors (see "Rebates Available" below in bold). If you need help in working your lawn irrigation controller, call Citrus County Utilities at 352-527-7669. You may also schedule a free, one-time training in working you lawn irrigation controller.
Set your irrigation controller to the once per week watering schedule below. Per restrictions, 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:
Watering Schedule:
House Number Addresses Ending in
0 or 1 - water on Monday
2 or 3 - water on Tuesday
4 or 5 - water on Wednesday
6 or 7 - water on Thursday
8 or 9 and locations with a mix of addresses or no address - water on Friday
Be Picky About Plants & Grass to Save Water and Money!
When installing new landscaping in your yard, choose native and drought-tolerant plants. Once established, these varieties require little water beyond normal rainfall. That includes grass! Some grasses handle all-day full sun, drought and pests better than others.
Know the watering and sunlight needs of your plants so you can pick the best place to plant them in your yard. Grouping plants with similar watering needs together also helps save water and promote a healthy garden. Putting the right plant in the right place creates a more resilient landscape.
Find landscaping tips here: https://www.epa.gov/watersense/landscaping-tips.
April is Water Conservation Month
In Citrus County, all drinking water comes from the Floridan Aquifer. This includes private wells and public utilities.
The aquifer is a natural underground water source that spans all of Florida and beyond its northern borders. The aquifer is a limited resource that relies on rainfall for replenishment. Below average rainfall causes lower aquifer and lake levels, as well as reduced spring flows. Maintaining levels and flows are necessary to prolong our drinking supplies and support the natural systems surrounding us.
April is typically a dry month in Florida, with water demands being highest due to lack of rainfall, and increased irrigation needs. Each year, Citrus County joins other local and state organizations in proclaiming April as Water Conservation Month to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation and saving Florida’s precious water resources. During April, consider how you can help save water.
2024 Poster Contest Winners
The first place winners in each age category of the 2024 Save Our Waters Week poster contest, presented by Citrus County Utilities and Keep Citrus County Beautiful, are pictured above:
(TOP LEFT) Kenzley Madison, 1st grade, Hernando Elementary School.
(TOP MIDDLE) Amara Ocampo, 3rd grade, Forest Ridge Elementary School.
(TOP RIGHT) Ryleigh Smith, 5th grade, Homosassa Elementary School.
(LOWER LEFT) Alexis Mellington, 7th grade, Citrus Springs Middle School.
(LOWER RIGHT) Kamryn McCarrick, 10th grade, Lecanto High School.
Rebates Available - Irrigation Items and Toilet Purchase
In you have questions about the rebates listed below, call (352) 527-7669. Visit the links below to apply for the rebates:
Rain Sensor Replacement - $50
citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/z18olalc0an7h7v
Water Sense Labeled Irrigation Controller (auto-adjusting) - $100
citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/z18olalc0an7h7v
Water Sense Labeled Toilet (to replace a pre-1995 toilet; pre-approval is required)
First Toilet - $100
Second Toilet - $75
citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/w1q2e5ah1lhbrb4/
Water Sense Labeled Toilet (to replace a post-1995 toilet; pre-approval is required)
Replace a 1.6 gallon per flush (GPF) toilet with 1.28 GPF or less toilet - $25
citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/w1q2e5ah1lhbrb4/
Florida-Friendly Landscaping program
Join a FREE workshop available at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Services office in Lecanto, Florida. Upcoming topics include:
Optimizing Irrigation Systems
Managing Pests Wisely
Right Plant, Right Place
For a complete list of workshops and to register, visit: https://ccufflprogram.eventbrite.com. If you need Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) advice, call FFL Coordinator Steven Davis at 352-527-5708.
April Gardening Tips
Annuals/Bedding Plants: New varieties of coleus do well in sun or shade and provide vivid colors and patterns for months. See Annuals: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/annuals.
Perennials and bulbs: Divide clumps of bulbs, ornamental grasses, or herbaceous perennials to expand or rejuvenate garden beds or to pass along to friends.
See Bulbs for Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_bulbous_flowers and
Perennial Landscape Plants: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_perennials.
Beneficials: Identify and conserve beneficial insects. These insects help create a balanced ecosystem and should be encouraged in your yard! See Beneficial Insects: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/sustainable_living/beneficial_insects.shtml.
Vegetables: Continue planting warm-season crops, such as beans, tomatoes, squash, and corn. Mulch well to prevent weeds and provide irrigation if rainfall is lacking. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening
For more details on these topics and more, visit:
https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/florida-gardening-calendar/.
Planning or adding to the landscape? The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design offers color images, zones hardiness, drought tolerance, light requirement and more: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/publications/.