Pine Island • Lee County
Irrigation in Pine Island, FL
Irrigation on Pine Island falls under Lee County's rules for unincorporated areas, not a city ordinance. For February 1 through the end of May 2026, the county set a one-day-a-week schedule: Saturdays for odd-numbered addresses, Sundays for even-numbered addresses and common areas, and no watering from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Outside that window, check the county's current schedule before reprogramming. Drinking water on the island comes from the Greater Pine Island Water Association, a groundwater system, and some properties irrigate from private wells instead; the South Florida Water Management District's year-round rule applies to well and pond water just as it does to utility water. That makes low-volume drip the workhorse here, because micro-irrigation and hand watering with a shut-off nozzle are allowed any day. Hodges zones turf and beds separately, aims spray away from seawalls and driveways, and keeps lines and heads clear of septic tanks and drain fields.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Pine Island
Pineland
St. James City
Pine Island Center
Matlacha
Plants and materials that suit it in Pine Island
- Coontie
- Perennial peanut
- Firebush
- Sea grape
- drip tubing with pressure-compensating emitters
- multi-zone controller
Questions
I irrigate from a private well. Do the watering days still apply?
Yes. The South Florida Water Management District's year-round irrigation rule applies whether the water comes from a utility, lake, pond, canal, or well, so the assigned days cover well-fed systems too.
Why do you push drip instead of spray heads in beds?
Drip puts water at the roots instead of on leaves, siding, and pavement, and low-volume irrigation is allowed outside the assigned days. That matters most during the dry months, when spray zones may be limited to one day a week.
Does the once-a-week schedule last all year?
The 2026 once-a-week schedule ran February 1 through the end of May. For the rest of the year, check Lee County's watering page or the district's lookup at sfwmd.gov/mywateringdays for the rules in effect.