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Drought Might Lead To Lawn Watering Crackdown

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: December 5, 2007

New Port Richey, FL - New Port Richey, FL - Water, it's a terrible thing to waste, county commissioners stressed Tuesday.

They said they might be ready to send out the "water cops" once again to catch residents who violate lawn watering restrictions during the dry winter months.

"You can't overemphasize drought conditions," Commission Chairman Ted Schrader said.

Pasco has observed once-a-week watering of lawns since 2000.

"We need the water cops out there," Commissioner Ann Hildebrand added.

County code enforcement officers write the citations, with fines starting at $35. County utility workers are trained to back them up when needed.

The biggest crackdown happened in June 2000, when the county had issued 525 citations with $35 fines.

In May of this year, the county instituted another "zero-tolerance" sweep of 16 neighborhoods which resulted in more than 125 citations over watering violations in less than a week.

In related water conservation issues, Commissioner Jack Mariano recommended a rebate program for low-flow toilets.

"I think it's a great time to push this program forward," Mariano said Tuesday.

Great Britain citizens use less than half the water per day than their U.S. counterparts, Commissioner Pat Mulieri observed.

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