Citrus County Utilities Water-wise News for February 2025
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Sun - February 2, 2025
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February 2, 2025
When it comes to winter lawncare, too much water and long periods of moisture can promote pests and disease. Many residents turn the irrigation controller to the ‘OFF’ position and then turn ‘ON’ after two weeks of no rainfall. Keep the controller plugged in to maintain settings. If you have a Water Sense labeled irrigation controller, there is no need to adjust the schedule because the controller will automatically reduce irrigation each week while it is cool.
February: Only apply irrigation about once every 14 days through the end of February. If the lawn receives any significant rainfall, wait another 14 days.
March-November: One scheduled irrigation of 1/2” to 3/4” each week. That is about 30-45 minutes per rotor head zone and 15-20 minutes per spray head zone. Per ordinance, watering is limited to one day per week, either before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. (not both), as follows:
Addresses Ending in:
0 or 1 - Monday
2 or 3 - Tuesday
4 or 5 - Wednesday
6 or 7 - Thursday
8 or 9 and locations with a mix of addresses or no address - Friday
Irrigation Controller Help
If irrigation controller help is needed, call 352-527-7669 to schedule a free one-time training.
Fix a Leak Week
Because minor water leaks account for nearly 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year in U.S. homes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® program promotes Fix a Leak Week the third week of March annually. Fix a Leak Week is a reminder to Americans to check household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks. Citrus County Utilities is promoting the following Fix a Leak Week events.
Schedule a Specialist
Our water conservation specialists can conduct a FREE irrigation system checkup with you. We also teach how to use your meter to check for leaks, operate the irrigation controller, test the rain sensor and provide toilet leak detection tablets. Call 352-527-7669 to schedule.
Water Expo Co-hosted by the Sugarmill Woods Civic Association
The annual water conservation expo is on Thursday, March 20, 2025, from 12:00 to 2:30 pm at the Sugarmill Woods Country Club. Experts on hand from the utility, Southwest Florida Water Management District and Extension Services. Topics include irrigation scheduling, indoor and outdoor leak detection, Florida-friendly Landscaping™ and water-saving fixtures. Free promotional items and plant raffle.
Shrimpapalooza The utility will be at the annual Shrimpapalooza festival on Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025, distributing toilet leak detection tablets and teaching kids about water saving habits. Stop by our booth for a Mardi Gras mask for the kids.
Shower Better
Whether you are remodeling your bathroom or just looking to save water, energy, and money, you can shower better. WaterSense labeled showerheads are independently certified to perform well, and each one saves the amount of water it takes to wash more than 88 loads of laundry every year. Plus, you’ll save money on the energy used to heat water! Stop by the conservation office or Expo for a FREE Water Sense labeled showerhead or look for the label on your next purchase. For more info, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
Join a FREE workshop available at the Extension Services office in Lecanto. Upcoming topics include:
Weed Management, Tuesday, February 4, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Call FFL Coordinator Steven Davis at 352-527-5708.
Want to add new plants to the landscape? The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design offers color images, zone hardiness, drought tolerance, light requirements and more: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/
February
Annuals: Plants that can take a chill and continue to flourish through March include dianthus, pansy, viola, and dusty miller. See Annuals: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/annuals
Vegetable: Plant potatoes now. Start with healthy seed pieces purchased from a local nursery or online seed catalog. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening
Bulbs: Try dahlia, crinum, and agapanthus. Provide adequate water for establishment and protect them from cold with mulch. See Bulbs for Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_bulbous_flowers
Roses: Prune roses this month to remove damaged canes and improve the overall form. After pruning, fertilize and apply a fresh layer of mulch. Blooming will begin 8–9 weeks after pruning. See Roses: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_rose
Water Sense Labeled Irrigation Controller — $100 (auto-adjusting controller)
Water Sense Labeled Toilet* -- $100, 1st toilet / $75, 2nd toilet if replacing a toilet that flushes more than1.6 gallon per flush with 1.28 gpf or less (old toilet typically installed before1995. Pre-approval & photos required.)
Water Sense Labeled Toilet* -- $25 per toilet if replacing a 1.6 gallon per flush with 1.28 gpf or less Water Sense labeled toilet. (old toilet typically installed after 1995. Pre-approval & photos required.)
