Daylight saving time resumes March 14

You know the old saying, “Spring forward, fall back.” It reminds us to turn our clocks ahead in the spring and back in the fall. This year, daylight saving time resumes Sunday, March 14.

This is also the day when Volusia County’s lawn watering schedule changes. If needed, residents may water their lawns twice a week until standard time resumes Nov. 7, when the once-a-week schedule will return.

People who live at odd-numbered addresses may water Wednesdays and Saturdays, and people at even-numbered addresses may water Thursdays and Sundays. Businesses may water Tuesdays and Fridays. Each zone of your irrigation system may be watered no more than one hour or three-quarters of an inch a day. Watering is not permitted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The watering restrictions apply to all county residents, including those who live inside city limits. They cover city and county water, private wells and pumps, but do not include reclaimed water. Unincorporated residents who violate the water conservation ordinance may be fined up to $500.

The time change also is a reminder to change the batteries in our smoke alarms. Smoke alarms can save lives if they are functioning properly, but studies show that most smoke alarms don’t work because of missing, dead or disconnected batteries.

Volusia County Fire Rescue offers free smoke alarms to residents in unincorporated areas of Volusia County. For more information, visit www.volusia.org/smoke-detector.