Charlotte County Utilities has issued a reminder to the community, urging vigilance in water conservation amidst soaring temperatures and a dry spell. The region's water use has spiked due to increased irrigation needs, and currently, it's outstripping last year's by a staggering two million gallons per day. This surge in consumption is already causing a dip in water pressure across the county's system. The utility department warns that, unless residents dial back on their water usage, further measures including pressure reductions may be necessary to keep storage levels in check.
Addressing this pressing issue in concrete terms, there's now a set schedule for lawn irrigation. The policy, designed to uphold the greater good of the community, dictates that residents with even-numbered addresses have the green light to water their lawns on Thursdays and Sundays, but only before the morning sun hits its peak at 10 a.m. or after it begins to wane at 4 p.m. Meanwhile, odd-numbered addresses are allocated Wednesdays and Saturdays for their lawn-maintenance endeavors, constrained to the same time frames. According to the Charlotte County, these measures aim to reduce water demands to sustain the system's balance.
There's room for some flexibility though. Residents who are tending to plants using hand watering or micro-irrigation systems aren't bound by the same restrictions. Fundamentally, maintaining the non-lawn flora doesn't pull as heavily on resources, allowing for this activity to be performed any day or time. It's a distinction that demonstrates the utility's understanding of different water needs and aims to allow prudent use without across-the-board limitations.
Special considerations have also been made for areas with no direct street addresses, like subdivision common spaces or roadside greenery. The county has placed these on a separate watering timetable, allowing for the maintenance of these shared spaces on Tuesdays and Fridays, again adhering to the before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. rule. This schedule, while possibly overlooked by casual observers, plays a crucial role in ensuring that even these community spaces follow suit in conservation efforts, mirroring the individual responsibilities set upon the residents.
