CITY INSTALLING WATER CONSERVATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 18, 2009) – The City of Ocala is nearing completion on a water conservation demonstration project at the front entrance of the Citizen’s Service Center, 201 SE 3rd St.
The project features a “pondless water fall” that recycles water, Florida native plantings that require minimal watering, and three types of micro- and low-volume irrigation. The project is designed to meet the guidelines of the Florida Friendly Landscaping program. The city soon will submit the project for the program’s official certification. The program is administered through the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Services.
The purpose of the irrigation educational project is to demonstrate to visitors how xeriscaping techniques can be used to produce aesthetically pleasing landscaping while using a fraction of the water.
Florida Yards’ educational material notes that the irrigation of lawns and landscaping in Florida represents the single largest use of water from municipal water supplies. Such water use has seriously impacted the aquifer, which is the source of our drinking water. In addition, fertilizers and pesticides used on lawns are major sources of pollution in our lakes and rivers.
By using conservation techniques, homeowners and businesses can reduce water usage for irrigation by up to 70 percent, as well as reduce their water bills.
Information on Florida Friendly landscaping will be playing on monitors in the Citizen’s Service Center lobby and informational brochures will be available.
The landscaping project, which is scheduled to be complete Oct. 1 in time for the opening of the city’s new call center, is in partnership with the Withlacoochee Regional Water Supply Authority through a 50 percent matching grant. Rain Bird Corp. donated the irrigation products
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For additional information on Florida Friendly Landscaping, visit www.FloridaYards.org.
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For more information contact: Sonny Allen, Communications Coordinator
City of Ocala, 352-629-8401, e-mail: sallen@ocalafl.org