Hawthorne adopts stricter lawn watering rules

Hawthorne – Lawn watering rules set by the St. Johns Water Management District will soon be more strictly enforced in Hawthorne thanks to an ordinance approved on first reading by the Hawthorne Commission Tuesday.

The restrictions limit residents to watering their lawns two days per week during daylight savings time and one day per week otherwise. Also, residents may not water lawns between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

First-time violators will receive a written notice. Second-time violators will be fined $50, and third-time violators will be fined $500.

Hawthorne is not alone in passing such an ordinance. All municipalities in counties within the St. John’s Water Management District are being asked to pass local ordinances and step up enforcement.

City Manager Ed Smyth said the purpose of passing the ordinance is to help the water management district conserve water by bringing the issue to attention locally. He said Hawthorne was already subject to these rules, and he doesn’t expect it to be a drastic change for residents.