As the Tampa Bay region experiences drought conditions and regional water authorities tighten irrigation rules, the City of Tampa Water Department is recognizing three residents for their award-winning, water-efficient landscapes and announcing the launch of a new Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program designed to help more homeowners reduce outdoor water use.
Susan Manian, Ingo Fochler and Liselott Uppgard are the latest winners of the Community Water Wise Awards for the City of Tampa. The award honors residents who maintain attractive landscapes while minimizing water use through Florida-Friendly Landscaping principles.
Reducing water demand is critical to protecting regional water resources. The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently declared a Modified Phase II Water Shortage following a regional 13-inch rainfall deficit. Our region’s success depends on everyone doing their part by following the once-a-week watering restrictions — the same rules our residents and businesses have been asked to follow for years. After the last drought, the City of Tampa, with support from the Tampa City Council, made once-a-week watering a year-round requirement, helping our city save approximately 4 billion gallons of water.
The water-wise winning landscapes stand out for their reduced requirement for supplemental irrigation, often using only half a gallon of water per square foot of landscape per month. That adds up to about 2,500 gallons per month for 5,000 square feet of Florida-Friendly Landscaping. By comparison, the same area of irrigated lawn typically uses three times as much water during the summer growing season.
To encourage more residents to transition to water-efficient, Florida-native landscapes, the Tampa Water Department is launching the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Incentive Program (FLIP) in collaboration with Hillsborough County Utilities and UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County.
FLIP is a series of three Saturday morning workshops providing homeowners with the tools and information needed to convert a portion of irrigated lawn into water-wise landscapes. Registration is now open for the first workshop, scheduled for Saturday, March 21. Residents who successfully convert up to 500 square feet of turf may be eligible for a rebate.
“We’re proud of our Community Water Wise Award winners and hope their landscapes inspire others to make the leap toward more water-efficient yards that still reflect the beauty of Florida,” said Rory Jones, director of the Tampa Water Department.
For our irrigating customers, outdoor water use often accounts for 50 percent or more of a household’s monthly water use. But it doesn’t have to. By applying the nine principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping and learning to manage irrigation seasonally, residents can save money on their utility bills and protect our water resources.
Registration for the FLIP class is available at tampa.gov/FLIP.