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Swiftmud Relaxes Sod Care Rules

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By NEIL JOHNSON

njohnson@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

TAMPA - Water regulators Tuesday loosened restrictions on replacing lawns, allowing people to water grass plugs or new sod daily for the first 15 days and three days a week for the following 15.

The decision by the Southwest Florida Water Management District's governing board relaxes a restriction imposed in October that banned residents in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties from replacing their lawns. The ban did not affect new lawns.

The Swiftmud board modified the rules after meeting with about 20 sod growers last week. Growers had complained the October ban could be the final blow to an industry already staggered by the stumbling construction industry.

The new rules apply only to those three counties where water supplies are the most strained by erratic summer rains that have left rivers near record low levels. Wellfields are being pumped at near capacity to make up for the lack of surface water.

Under the rules, sod for replacing lawns or for new construction can be watered daily for the first 15 days. From days 16 through 30, even numbered addresses can water lawns Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; odd numbered addresses can water Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Although the rules relax the October ban on replacing sod, they tighten regulations for new construction. Before Tuesday, new lawns could be watered daily for the first 30 days and every other day for the next 30 days.

Following the October ban, many sod growers, surviving on business from lawn replacements, said regulators were prohibiting residents from putting in new lawns during the best time of year to replace sod.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731.

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