Central Florida is dependent on rainfall for its freshwater supply. Rainwater is first stored in surface water bodies, such as lakes, rivers, canals and wetlands, but it eventually percolates through the ground to recharge the Floridan Aquifer. Orange County usually receives an abundance of rain, about 52 inches per year, falling mostly in the summer/fall months (June-October or "wet season"). Winter/spring months (November-May or "dry season") are typically warm with much less rain. Still, no matter how much rain we receive, most of it isn't available for consumptive use. As much as 45 inches of rain are lost each year through evapotranspiration, a combination of evaporation and transpiration.

Mandatory lawn watering restrictions specify the days when you may water. These days depend on whether you have an odd- or even-numbered address, and the time of year. So unless your day and number are up, make sure those sprinklers stay down.

Know Your Watering Days (PDF - 143 KB)

• Turn off the water when you are shaving and brushing your teeth
  
  
• Take short showers (five minutes or less)
  
  
• Fix All Leaks
  Fixing leaks immediately could save thousands of gallons of water every year. Find out if you have a leak by looking at the dial on your water meter. Make sure that no water is being used and look at the dial again. If it is moving, you have a leak. Most of the time, that leak is occurring in the toilet.
  
  To detect a slow, silent leak in the toilet, first remove the lid from the tank. Second, flush the toilet to clear the water in the bowl. Finally, add dye tablets, leak detector fluid or a few drops of food coloring to the tank. If your toilet is leaking, color will appear in the bowl within 30 minutes.
  
  
• Defrost Food in Advance
  Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in the refrigerator or use the "Defrost" setting on your microwave.
  
  
• Reuse Water
  Do not waste water waiting for it to get hot; capture this water for other uses, such as plant watering. You can also place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water and use it to water plants.

• Use Florida Friendly Landscaping Techniques
  Plant it smart! Florida Friendly Landscaping techniques are a great way to design, install and maintain both your plants and irrigation system. These techniques will save time, money and water. Examples of Florida Friendly Landscaping techniques include planting native and/or drought-tolerant grasses, shrubs and trees; minimizing the amount of sod in your yard and replacing it with groundcover such as Asiatic Jasmine; and using micro/drip irrigation or soaker hoses in plant beds.
  
  
• Use a Broom or Blower to Clean Your Driveway or Sidewalk
  Use a broom or blower instead of a hose to clean leaves and other debris from your driveway or sidewalk.
  
  
• Monitor Hoses and Sprinklers
  Do not leave sprinklers or hoses unattended. A garden hose can pour out 600 gallons or more of water in only a few hours. To remind yourself to turn off the hose or sprinkler, use a bell timer. To conserve water while washing your vehicle, use a nozzle at the end of your hose.

For more information about water conservation, please call the Water Division at 407-254-9850 or send an e-mail to Water.Division@ocfl.net.

You may also visit these external sites to learn more about water conservation:

• St. Johns River Water Management District (External Site)
  
• South Florida Water Management District (External Site)

For information on the Water Division's community outreach programs, please access the Water Division's Community Outreach page.