§ 78-268. Restrictions on use of alternative water sources.

No person shall install a new irrigation well to serve property where reclaimed water distribution facilities are available; nor shall any person utilize potable water for irrigation through a new or existing lawn meter on property where reclaimed water distribution facilities are available. Existing private irrigation systems which connect to the reclaimed water system and are presently served by an on-site well or other water source shall disconnect the well or other water source permanently. Dual or temporary connections of wells to irrigation systems served by reclaimed water are not permitted. Dual or temporary connections may be made to natural surface waters or artificially created surface impoundments as permittable by FDEP when declared exempt by the director. The director may make such declaration of exemption as to a limited area or particular lake or as to a particular property or class of properties (i.e., commercial, multi-family, etc.) and for such a limited time period as determined necessary by the utilities director to serve and protect the public interest. In making such determinations, the utilities director shall consider, among other things, the following factors:

(1)

Whether city-wide reuse irrigation utilization is high;

(2)

Whether such irrigation would not be detrimental to the body of water; and

(3)

Whether the particular property or class of properties has the physical means to take water from the body of water using available facilities which can be isolated from other piping systems so as not to pose cross connection control problems. A declaration of exemption issued under this section shall not exempt the user or property from compliance with all other regulatory requirements of the St. Johns River Water Management District, State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the City of Winter Garden, and all other applicable local, regional, state, or federal agencies.

(Ord. No. 01-52, § 2, 7-26-01; Ord. No. 06-12, § 9, 3-9-06)