Seminole County offers free irrigation checks, urges homeowners delay replacing frost-damaged plants

Seminole County Utilities is making available two free irrigation evaluations per year to Seminole County water utility customers, offering homeowners a licensed technician to inspect systems and help avoid unnecessary plant replacements after recent freezes. The county frames the visits as a way to "help reduce water bills and improve irrigation efficiency," providing a written report and a custom watering schedule after each inspection.

A licensed Irrigation and Landscape Professional will schedule an evaluation at the homeowner’s residence and complete a visual and operational inspection that includes checking the system meter, inspecting irrigation zones and coverage, checking timers and adjusting them as needed, and checking rain sensors and rain shutoff devices. The county materials also list leaks, improperly set timers and "irrigation where there should be none" as common inefficiencies the evaluation will look for. A specialist will inspect the system, check coverage, adjust timers, and replace faulty sensors if needed.

Homeowners will receive a written report, a custom watering schedule, and maintenance and design recommendations following the visit. County documents say the inspections are intended to reduce water use and bills; the county page notes that "Residential outdoor water use accounts for around 30 – 60% of total household water use for the average Florida homeowner," underscoring the potential savings from correcting irrigation problems.

Seminole County has contracted CATO Environmental Services, Inc. to perform evaluations in unincorporated areas. The county text states, "CATO Environmental Services, Inc. has been contracted by Seminole County to provide irrigation evaluations for unincorporated Seminole County utility customers." CATO is described in county materials as a licensed irrigation contractor that has been serving Central Florida since 1999 with "a strong focus on water conservation." Homeowners should expect identification: "Please note, for security reasons our contractor, CATO Environmental Services, Inc., will arrive at your home with a Seminole County Contractor sign on their vehicle, as well as a Contractor Identification badge."

To request an evaluation, the county directs residents to "Complete the irrigation evaluation request form by clicking the button below or call 407-665-2121 for more information." The county also instructs residents to "Check to see if you are a Seminole County water utility customer by entering your address here and scrolling to the Water Provider line item" to confirm eligibility. County materials emphasize the program is "two free irrigation evaluations per year exclusively for Seminole County water utility customers."

County officials and program materials recommend a quick system check after recent freeze events before replacing frost-damaged plants, saying the inspections can identify system faults that mimic plant damage. The documentation leaves one operational question open: while the program is billed to Seminole County water utility customers, the county page explicitly ties CATO’s contract to unincorporated utility customers, and it does not specify how or whether customers inside incorporated municipalities are served.