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Watering Restrictions For New Lawns Modified

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: December 16, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Regional regulators today modified watering restrictions for new lawns in response to complaints from sod business owners.

Changes the Southwest Florida Water Management District made in October were threatening to drive firms out of business, according to Rhyan Porter, owner of P&R Sod. The 34-year-old company has two West Pasco locations.

SWFWMD imposed the new restrictions in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties because of a severe water shortage caused by a persistent drought.

The restrictions, slated to remain in effect through June 30, 2009, allowed watering of lawns planted at newly built houses but essentially prohibited watering replacement turf, Porter complained.

Porter was among a group of sod industry leaders who at a conference last week asked SWFWMD to amend the watering rule change made in October because of its unintended consequences.

"They apologized today," Porter said Tuesday, referring to the board of governors of the Brooksville-based SWFWMD.

The change the board approved today will apply equally to lawns planted at houses under construction as well as replacement of existing lawns with sod plugs and other turf grass material, according to the bulletin from the district.

SWFWMD reduced the establishment watering period 30 days for both lawns at new houses and replacement turf. The new grass can be watered every day for the first 15 days. For the rest of the month the turf can be watered every other day.

Once-a-week restrictions on watering established lawns and other landscape plants remain in effect in all 16 counties in SWFWMD's west-central Florida area of jurisdiction.

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