Citrus County Water-wise News: water conservation, irrigation, rebates, pool leaks, gardening and more
Citrus County Department of Water Resources
3600 W. Sovereign Path, Suite 202, Lecanto, Florida 34461-7726
Phone (352) 527-7669
Irrigation
Irrigation should be scheduled to water once per week. If you need help with your irrigation controller, call 352-527-7669 to schedule a free, one-time training.
Rain sensors interrupt irrigation after a set amount of rainfall, typically 1/2 to 3/4 inch of rain. A functioning rain sensor is required on all automatic irrigation systems in Florida, per Florida Statute. Sensors typically dry and allow normal irrigation after about 18 hours. Bypassing the sensor during this period to apply additional water is wasteful, as wetting an already wet lawn provides no additional benefit. Please verify your sensor is NOT in bypass mode.
Rebates are available to replace rain sensore ($50) and irrigation controllers ($100) with WaterSense products. Here's a link to the rebate application: citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/z18olalc0an7h7v.
Information about rebates to purchase WaterSense toilets is below (see "Rebate Information").
June through November, one scheduled irrigation of 1/2 to 3/4 innch each week should be sufficient. That is about 30 to 45 minutes per rotor head zone, and 15 to 20 minutes per spray head zone.
Per restrictions, watering is limited to one day per week, either before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. - not both - as follows; address numbers 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
Rebate Information
Rain Sensor Replacement — $50
Link to Rain Sensor replacement application: citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/z18olalc0an7h7v
Water Sense Labeled Irrigation Controller — $100 (auto-adjusting controller)
Link to Irrigation Controller replacement application: citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/z18olalc0an7h7v
Toilet Rebate (up to two toilets per household)
If you're hinking about replacing your old toilet, take photos of it while it is still installed, and submit a rebate application for an account credit with Citrus County Utilities. The photos should show the date stam or gallons per fluch. Homes built in 1995 or later must show GPF to qualify. The old toilet must use 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF) or more to qualify.
If replacing a toilet that flushes more than 1.6 gallon per flush with 1.28 gpf or less: $100 for the first toilet and $75 for the second toilet. If replacing a 1.6 gallon per flush with 1.28 gpf or less: $25 per toilet.
If you have a question about a rebatem please call (352) 527-7669. Visit this link for a Toilet Rebate Application: citruswater.wufoo.com/forms/w1q2e5ah1lhbrb4.
Pool Owners - Conduct a Leak Test
Pools lose water every day through normal evaporation. However, leaks can cause excessive water loss. Conduct a simple bucket test to learn whether loss is a leak or just nature at work.
First, choose a day when no rain is forecast. Then, fill the pool up to its normal level and turn off the autofill device.
Next, place a bucket on the pool step where it is submerged at least 4 inches. Add a stone or other weight to the bucket to hold it in place, and fill the bucket with water until it is level with the pool water. Now, use a marker to mark the water level on the inside and outside of the bucket.
Leave the bucket in the pool for 24 hours. After 24 hours have passed, compare the two water levels. The water level in the pool and bucket should be about the same when no leaks are present. If the water level of the pool decreases more than the water inside the bucket, there may be a leak.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping program
Join a FREE Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) Program workshop, available at the Universityof Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Extension Services office, located at 3650 W. Sovereign Path, Suite 1, in Lecanto, Florida.
Upcoming topics will include:
• Fixing Flaws in Your Landscape
• Lawns in Central Florida
• Palms in Central Florida
For a complete list of workshops and to register, visit ccufflprogram.eventbrite.com. If you need some Florida-Friendly Landscaping advice, call FFL Coordinator Steven Davis at (352) 527-5708.
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. Visit ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/homeowners/publications.htm or ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/plants.
What to do in the Landscape and Garden for June
Annuals/Bedding Plants
Annuals that can take full sun during hot summer months include celosia, portulaca, vinca, and some coleus. See Annuals at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/annuals.
Summer-Flowering Shrubs
Prune lightly during the warmer months to encourage more branching and blooming. Azaleas can still be pruned in June without removing next spring's flower buds. See Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs at gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pruning/pruning-and-maintaining-trees.html.
Herbs
Plant heat-loving herbs, including basil, Mexican tarragon, and rosemary. Pinch back regularly to prevent flowering and enhance branching. See Herbs at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_herbs.
Vegetables
Plant okra, southern pea, and sweet potato. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening.
For more details on these topics and more, visit
sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/florida-gardening-calendar.