Lowering Your Pasco County Utilities Water Bill

9 Ways to Save Money on Your Monthly Water Bill

1. Frequency Adjustment – Set your irrigation clock for the correct watering day according to last number in street address. 0 or 1 – Monday 2 or 3 – Tuesday 4 or 5 – Wednesday 6 or 7 – Thursday 8 or 9 – Friday Weekends – no watering

2. Duration – Apply ¾” per irrigation Fixed spray pop-ups – 20 minutes Rotors & Microirrigation – 45 minutes Check amount with tuna can calibration

3. Turn on roof mounted rain shut-off device and check for proper operation. Set to turn off after ½” of rainfall

4. Turn down or turn off individual emitters not used for turf irrigation if shrubs and trees are 5 years old.

5. Install microirrigation in landscape beds or water by hand as necessary.

6. Replace roof mounted rain shut off device with wire/wireless soil moisture sensor installed in the ground (e.g. Toro Xtra Smart wireless or others by Rain Bird or Irritrol)

7. Replace irrigated turf with mulched landscape beds of drought tolerant plants. Remember to modify the irrigation system by replacement with microirrigation or capping existing emitters. (Remember to get HOA Approval first)

8. Operate irrigation system manually. Shut it off entirely during the rainy season for maximum savings. Irrigation needs are up to 50% less in the winter dormant season.

9. Use your smart phone to advise you on setting run times for each type of irrigation zone in your home landscape. This app is designed to help urban turf irrigators in Florida and Georgia, USA to generate irrigation schedule recommendations based on real-time weather and short-term forecasted data. Users can register irrigation systems in the app and receive notifications regarding irrigation schedules changes due to differences in the irrigation demand for the next few days. Look for the App name SmartIrrigationTurf for either Android or IPhone.

For Further Information and Assistance:
Chris Dewey – Florida Friendly Landscaping ™ Program Coordinator
UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension
813-929-2716 or CDewey@PascoCountyFL.net