Reclaimed water update for North County residents

Effective Sunday, Aug. 7, the north Pinellas County reclaimed water system will return to normal operation on Sundays in addition to continued operation on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. This will allow reclaimed water customers one additional day of watering.

North county reclaimed water customers may irrigate two days per week based on property address according to the schedule below:

• Addresses ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8) may water on Tuesday and/or Saturday.
• Addresses ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, or 9) may water on Wednesday and/or Sunday.
• Addresses with mixed or no addresses, such as common areas associated with a residential subdivision, may water on Wednesday and/or Sunday.
• Watering is prohibited between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on all days.

The reclaimed water system will continue to be shut down on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The system will also be shut down from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on all days of operation.

Customer cooperation in following the two-day-per-week watering scheduling is critical, as excessive demand may require a return to a one-day-per-week schedule. Pinellas County advises customers to practice good reclaimed water conservation habits such as:

• Avoid the “set it and forget it” habit. Be mindful of weather conditions and turn off the irrigation system before, during and after significant rainfall events to avoid wasting water and overwatering the lawn. Overwatering is unhealthy for landscape and may cause damage (i.e. excessive weeds, pest infestation, fungus, and other diseases).
• Ensure your irrigation system is equipped with a properly installed and operating rain sensor or soil moisture monitoring device to bypass irrigation cycles when sufficient soil moisture exists.
• Water infrequently, but deeply. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water, 2 – 3 times per week (including rainfall) is most effective to maintain a healthy, drought-tolerant lawn and encourage deep roots.
• Water only on your assigned days and only if your lawn shows signs of stress: curling blades, wilting or blue-gray color.
• Contact Pinellas County Extension at (727) 582-2100 and speak to a Florida Friendly Landscaping™ agent to get tips on best management practices for maintaining a healthy landscape. Visit their website for great tips and information:

Pinellas County Utilities reminds customers that reclaimed water is a limited resource and is dependent upon the volume of wastewater produced by residents within the service area. Pinellas County Utilities will continue to look for ways to better manage this supply and supplement it by purchasing reclaimed water from other cities such as Clearwater and Oldsmar.

The Pinellas County reclaimed water program underscores a key component of Pinellas County’s Strategic Plan: reducing, reusing and recycling resources including energy, water and solid waste.