FORT PIERCE - With water managers in South Florida implementing Phase II water restrictions, St. Lucie County's code enforcement officers will begin issuing $25 fines for those property owners who violate the mandatory water restrictions on the first offense.

The South Florida Water Management District will begin restricting irrigation to two days a week Wednesday, May 16 for both Martin and St. Lucie County residents. St. Lucie County has been under three-day-a-week restrictions since April 13.

Originally when these restrictions were imposed, St. Lucie County code enforcement officers issued written warnings for first-time offenders and a $25 fine for second offensives.

"We've had almost of month of public education in place through press releases, the website, and our government access channel as well as the local newspapers and television stations. There's no reason why residents shouldn't be aware of the water restrictions and how they apply to their property," said St. Lucie County Administrator Doug Anderson.

Since the restrictions were imposed on St. Lucie County, code enforcement officers have issued 86 warnings; 67 of those were complaints call into code enforcement.

Even with rainfall earlier in the week, St. Lucie County still experiencing extremely high drought levels with today's drought index of 614. A burn ban is in effect for all of St. Lucie County whenever the drought index exceeds 550. That burn ban, which includes all open fires and fireworks, has been in effect since February.

The new mandatory two-day-a-week irrigation restriction applies to all water users, whether they irrigate their lawns with water from public utilities, private wells, canals, rivers, ponds or lakes.

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 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 Thursdays and Sundays.

Residents with more than five acres and odd number addresses can irrigate their lawns 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 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. Hand watering may be done at anytime for new landscaping. However, please keep receipts to prove that the plantings are less than 30 days old.

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.

Additionally effective today, all North and South Hutchinson Island reclaim water customers will only have three watering days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 p.m. - 8 a.m. St. Lucie County Utilities is no longer going to supplement the reuse with potable water. The demand for reclaimed water is more than the department can make.

St. Lucie County Code Enforcement officers will be enforcing these water restrictions in the unincorporated areas of the county. No further warnings will be issued. Residents caught violating for the first time will be issued a $25 fine, while second-time offenders will be issued a $500 fine and/or jail time not to exceed 60 days.

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.

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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