South Florida residents limited to 2 days a week for lawn watering under year-round rules

Maintaining a lush lawn while adhering to year-round water restrictions in Miami-Dade and Broward counties requires careful planning, local experts say.

South Florida residents are subject to specific outdoor water rules implemented by the South Florida Water Management District around 2008 and 2009.

"You're on a restriction every day of the week," said Anthony Gross of Broward's Natural Resource Division.

Watering schedule depends on where you live

The irrigation schedule is determined by a property's address:

• Odd-numbered addresses: Watering is permitted on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
• Even-numbered addresses: Watering is permitted on Thursdays and Sundays.

Watering must occur before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. to be most effective. There are exceptions for activities including car and boat washing, pressure cleaning, fountains, water-based recreation such as pools, reclaimed water, and new plantings.

Tips on the best times to water

For residents like Lenny Trujillo, who keeps a close eye on his own lawn, compliance is common.

"I see everybody following the rules, and they don't have it on a long time," Trujillo said.

Gross emphasizes that timing is critical for the health of the lawn.

"Turn those sprinklers on starting anywhere from, say, 5 a.m. to 7 in the morning, which is really the prime time to irrigate, because then that water is going to actually soak into the soil and be absorbed by the roots of the plants," Gross said.

He noted that watering during the heat of the day leads to rapid evaporation, wasting water and money.

Additional Conservation Tips

Following irrigation rules not only complies with regional mandates but can also lead to significant savings on monthly water bills.

To further increase water conservation and reduce costs, experts recommend:

• Native plants: Incorporating landscaping that requires less supplemental water.
• Mulching: Adding two to three inches of mulch around plants to slow evaporation.

For more information on regulations and conservation resources, residents can visit the Miami-Dade Water Conservation and Broward NatureScape websites.