FORT PIERCE - Despite the rainfall earlier in the week, St. Lucie County is still experiencing extremely high drought levels with a recent drought index of 613. In an effort to conserve water and protect that resource, St. Lucie County Utilities is imposing mandatory water restrictions for the unincorporated St. Lucie County effective Friday, April 13. This mandatory 3-day-a-week irrigation restriction applies to users, whether they irrigate their lawns with water from public utilities, private wells, canals, rivers, ponds or lakes.

In conjunction with water restrictions being issued by the South Florida Water Management District, residents with less than five acres in the unincorporated areas of St. Lucie County and addresses ending in odd numbers may only irrigate their lawns Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays between 4 a.m. - 8 a.m. Hand watering is permitted on those days between 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Residences with less than five acres and addresses ending in even number may water during those times on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Residents with more than five acres and odd number addresses can irrigate their lawns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 12:01 a.m. - 8 a.m. Those with more than five acres and even number addresses may water during those times on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Property owners with new landscaping (less than 30 days planted) on less than five acres may water between 2 a.m. - 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. New landscaping on more than five acres may irrigated between 12:01 a.m. - 8 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Residents should also refrain from using water to pressure wash homes, sidewalk and other paved surfaces. Boats, vehicles and other equipment maybe washed between 4 a.m. - 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. -7 p.m. on the same days that your property is allowed to be irrigated. Vehicles and boats should be washed on non-paved surfaces. Boats may be rinsed after use for 15 minutes per day.

St. Lucie County Code Enforcement officers will be monitoring and enforcing these water restrictions along with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's deputies. Residents caught violating the water restrictions will be issued a written warning. Second-time offenders will be issued a $25 fine, while third-time offenders will be issued a $500 fine and/or jail time not to exceed 60 days.

The St. Lucie County Utilities Department is also requesting continued voluntary daily use restrictions of reuse watering to three days per week.

These restrictions will remain in effect until sufficient rainfall is received. The county will be monitoring the situation and continue to coordinate with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). St. Lucie County and SFWMD continue to encourage both residential and agricultural water users throughout the County to reduce their water consumption and observe more aggressive water conservation practices. All water needs to be conserved no matter the source.

For more information about the county's water restrictions, contact the St. Lucie County Utilities Department at (772) 462-1150 or visit www.stlucieco.gov. For more details about SFWMD water restrictions visit: www.sfwmd.gov or call (800) 250-4100 ext. 3630. For water conservation tips call SFWMD Water Conservation Hotline at (800) 662-8876. To report water violations in the unincorporated part of St. Lucie County contact the county's Code Enforcement Hotline at (772) 370-2545.

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