AWWA SOURCES55770

Hillsborough County has developed a multi-disciplined approach to promoting the widespread utilization of low volume irrigation techniques for landscapes. Within the combination of tools to implement this program, the County Water Department funded a public awareness program through the County Cooperative Extension Service (affiliated with the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida) and the retrofit of governmental facilities with these technologies. The Water Department also funded an irrigation system retrofit rebate, available to neighborhood associations as the initiation of a multi-year project to offer financial incentives to property owners to retrofit their respective homes and businesses. The County has also adopted an Ordinance provision to require low volume irrigation methods when the watering is accomplished over a non-permeable surface at retail plant nurseries. Finally, the County is requiring low volume irrigation in landscape plantings for new construction through local ordinance adoption and modification of the Land Development Code. Much of the impetus for these actions was a direct result of the impacts of the drought affecting the region from the end of the El Ni¿o in 1998 through 2001, including mandatory single-day per week water restrictions imposed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District). Additional thrust for undertaking these actions was a result of a review of recent growth trends and future water demand predictions. Includes table.