Another blamed the improper watering on someone who broke in and turned on the water. Still others don't apologize at all. A Belleair Shores woman informed utilities employees she would water her grass as much as she liked because she could afford the fines, Wiley said. The county also has taken steps to counter residents who say they didn't know about the water restrictions. Updated water restriction information has been added to a customer service telephone line and the county's Web page.
Future plans call for more training workshops and a phone line dedicated to reporting violators.
But all this work may not not decrease water usage appreciably, officials said. Pinellas County used, on average, 72-million gallons of water a day last year. The first three months of this year show a decrease in use to 71-million gallons a day. Most people we find irrigating on the wrong day have had a malfunction of their system, were out of town or have other reasons that may be okay, like new planting. St. Petersburg Times.