The Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) recently sent out a message to remind residents to shift landscape irrigation scheduling back to one day per week following the Nov. 5 Daylight Savings time change. The fall watering schedule will resume until March 10, 2024. 

The cooler temperatures and shorter days during the winter months call for less watering due to slower growth and less evaporation. SRWMD encourages residents to set irrigation schedules to ensure efficient water use and water conservation. 

Additionally, November is historically the driest month of the year, according to SRWMD.

“Conserving water is an important part of the District’s mission, and irrigation scheduling is one way that we can all contribute to that goal,” said Hugh Thomas, executive director of the SWRMD, in a press release. “The changing seasons result in colder and drier times, so much less water is required to preserve the health of our landscaping.” 

The watering schedule applies to residential landscaping; public, commercial, and industrial property; hotels and motels; and public medians. Key guidelines include: 

• No irrigation between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• No more than ¾ inch of water may be applied per irrigation zone. per day
• Water no more than one hour per irrigation zone
• Odd numbered or no address locations are permitted to water on Saturdays (Address ending in the numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or the letters N-Z)
• Even numbered address locations are permitted to water on Sundays (Address ending in the numbers 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or letters A-M)
• Non-residential properties are permitted to water on Tuesdays.
  

When it rains close to a scheduled irrigation day, businesses and residents are encouraged to use Florida-Friendly Landscape principles and skip watering. Agricultural and other large irrigation uses maintain year-round guidelines through SWRMD’s water use permitting program.