This Week’s Hot Topics
- New water conservation cost-share program information available.
- Watering restrictions changed Nov. 1 to one day per week.
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Current topic:
“DeLand helping homeowners and builders save water”
Jeff Cole, Director
Communications and
Governmental Affairs
jcole@sjrwmd.com
DeLand helping homeowners and builders save water
Friday, January 29, 2010
The city of DeLand has come up with creative and lucrative incentives for homeowners and builders interested in conserving water through the Florida Water StarSM program.
The city is providing up to $250 rebates to homeowners and builders who install water-conserving fixtures and appliances. Builders can also obtain permit fee rebates for homes and commercial buildings certified as meeting Florida Water StarSM standards, and builders can get a 15 percent credit on utility impact fees. The average total incentive currently being provided is about $700.
The city’s Building Department Web page has more information and contact phone numbers.
The St. Johns River Water Management District launched the Florida Water StarSM program in 2002 as a voluntary certification program that encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes.
Resist the urge to prune freeze-damaged plants for now
Friday, January 22, 2010
Now that it has warmed up a bit (actually a lot), some people are venturing into their yards to get rid of any evidence of our freezes by pruning what appears to be dead vegetation and limbs. The experts are all pretty consistent in agreeing that pruning now can do more harm than good since we still have the potential of more freezes.
It’s best to hold off on any pruning until spring is actually here. Here are some links to recent columns and articles on the topic:
As you survey the damage in your yard and ultimately discover which plants survived and which didn’t, you may want to choose more cold-tolerant plants to replace those that don’t come back. The searchable Waterwise Florida Landscapes database on our Web site includes information about which plants best tolerate the cold and which ones typically come back after a freeze.
Public water supply meeting on Jan. 28
Thursday, January 14, 2010
As part of our continued planning for future water supplies, we’ll be holding a public meeting Jan. 28 that will be another opportunity for the northeast Florida public to participate in and learn about the water supply planning process.
The Suwannee River Water Management District will join us since we share mutual water supply concerns and challenges, and the meeting will be in the evening for the convenience of the public.
The meeting will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Alachua County Health Department Auditorium, 224 S.E. 24th St., Gainesville. Details are in our news release.
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