Marco Island • Collier County
Irrigation in Marco Island, FL
Marco Island Utilities draws its supply from two very different places: surface water from the Marco Lakes site on the mainland and brackish Floridan Aquifer water treated by reverse osmosis on the island. Sprinklers at single-family homes run on that treated potable water, not reclaimed, so the city leans on conservation during dry spells. In the 2023 drought, for example, it limited established landscapes to two days a week by address, with early-morning hours for automatic systems, and allowed more frequent watering for new plantings during their first 90 days. Those specifics were temporary, so check the current schedule with Marco Island Utilities before a controller is set. Hodges zones beds and turf separately, uses drip on shrub beds, and installs a rain sensor; the city advises setting sensors so a half inch of rain shuts the system off. Irrigation in the public right-of-way is covered by city right-of-way permitting.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Marco Island
Tigertail Beach area
Old Marco
South Marco Beach
Caxambas
Plants and materials that suit it in Marco Island
- Coontie
- Blue daze
- Perennial peanut
- Firebush
- Drip tubing
- Rotary nozzles
- Rain sensor
- Smart controller
Questions
What are the watering days on Marco Island right now?
The city sets them and adjusts them during droughts, as it did in 2023 with a two-day, address-based schedule. Because the rules change, call Marco Island Utilities or check the city site for the current schedule before your controller is programmed.
How should my rain sensor be set?
The city advises a working rain sensor set so that half an inch or more of rain temporarily disables the system. Hodges installs one with every new system and checks the setting on existing ones during repairs.
Does a companion meter make sense for my sprinklers?
A companion meter measures outdoor water separately from the house. The city charges a monthly fee for it and bills sewer on actual usage for companion-meter accounts, so ask Marco Island Utilities whether it fits your situation before adding one.