Grounds and Facilities Maintenance

Grounds Maintenance

Duties & Responsibilities

The Grounds Maintenance Division maintains all grounds on City owned properties including our 10 beautiful parksopens in a new window. Crews monitor special events held, keep trash collected, maintain playgrounds and prepare reserved pavilions in parks. Grounds Maintenance Crews also maintain the irrigation and the splash pad at Sims Parkopens in a new window.

Facilities Maintenance

Duties & Responsibilities

The Facilities Maintenance Division maintains all City buildings, including HVAC Systems, elevator maintenance, and cleaning of buildings. Facilities Maintenance also maintains the Street Lights on US Highway 19.

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10 Tips for Efficient Irrigation

  1. Frequency Adjustment – Set your irrigation clock for the correct watering day according to last number in street address
    • Potable watering days below
      • Even addresses may water on Thursday and/or Sunday before 10 a.m or after 4 p.m.
      • Odd addresses may water on Wednesday and/or Saturday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
      • Locations without a discernible address, such as right-of-way and common areas inside a subdivision, may water on Tuesday, and/or Friday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
    • Reclaimed watering restriction
      • The City of New Port Richey does not have any watering restrictions, City residents may water as much or as litter of Reclaimed Water on any days/times.
  2. Duration – Apply ¾” per irrigation
    • Fixed spray pop-ups – 20 minutes
    • Rotors & Micro-irrigation – 45 minutes
    • Check amount with tuna can calibration*
  3. Turn ON roof mounted rain shut-off device and check for proper operation.
  4. Mature landscape plants don’t need as much water as turf. Turn down or turn off individual emitters/ zones not used for turf in landscape beds or water by hand as necessary.
  5. Install micro-irrigation in landscape beds or water by hand as necessary.
  6. Replace roof mounted rain shut off device with wire/wireless soil moisture sensor installed in the ground. Note: To achieve maximum savings, follow installation and calibration instructions closely.
  7. Replace irrigated turf with mulched landscape beds of drought tolerant plants. Remember to modify the irritation system by replacement with micro-irrigation or capping existing emitters.
  8. Operate irrigation system manually. Shut it off entirely during the rainy season for maximum savings.
  9. Use ‘Seasonal Adjustment’ or ‘Water Budget’ settings during cooler months. Irrigation needs re up to 50% less in the winter dormant season.
  10. Periodically check for broken heads, misdirected sprays, etc. In addition, periodically check controller programming for duplicate programs, multiple start-times, excessive run-times, These issues are easy to overlook, but are frequently identified as the cause of increased water consumption. ALWAYS check programming after power outages, power surges, or lightning strikes, as these have been known to reset controllers to factory default settings. For many controllers, factory default = a DAILY water schedule.
  • Note: Application rates and system design can vary significantly. Suggested run-times discussed above are based on average application rates. Always check amount with tuna can calibration.

Giant African Land Snail

The giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world and consumes at least 500 different types of plants. These snails could be devastating to Florida agriculture and natural areas as they cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments. The snails also pose a serious health risk to humans by carrying the parasite rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans. Giant African land snails are illegal to import or possess in the United States without a permit.

The giant African land snail has been eradicated twice in Florida. The first detection was in 1969 and was eradicated in 1975. The most recent eradication of this pest was in 2021 from a detection in 2011 in Miami-Dade County. Prior to the recent detection, the last live snail in Florida was collected in Miami-Dade County in December of 2017.

DO NOT HANDLE SNAILS WITHOUT WEARING GLOVES!

Pasco County Program Information

On June 23, 2022, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed the detection of giant African land snail in the New Port Richey area of Pasco County. This detection was reported by a Pasco County Master Gardener.

FDACS's Division of Plant Industry has begun to survey the area, enacted a quarantine and will begin treatment for this detrimental pest on June 29, 2022. FDACS will treat properties with a metaldehyde-based molluscicide (snail bait). The treatment is labeled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for residential use.

Think you found a giant African land snail? Refer to the ID sheet below. Still not sure? Email a photo for identification to 

Snail ID Sheet opens in a new window(FDACS)

Giant African Land Snail Pest Alert (FDACS)

Frequently Asked Questions About Metaldehyde for Controlling Snails and Slugs

Quarantine

A quarantine is in place starting at the northwest corner of U.S. Highway 19 and Ridge Road. Proceed east on Ridge Road, south on Little Road, west on Trouble Creek Road, north on U.S. Highway 19 (see map).

Per guidelines provided for by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, it is unlawful to move the giant African land snail or a regulated article, including but not limited to, plants, plants parts, plants in soil, soil, yard waste, debris, compost or building materials, within, through or from a quarantine area without a compliance agreement.

To obtain a compliance agreement, call 1-888-397-1517 or email DPIHelpline@FDACS.gov

Sample Compliance Agreement for Nursery/Stock Dealer/Garden Center

https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/104745/file/08486%20sample.pdf

Sample Compliance Agreement for Solid Waste Facilities and Commercial Trash Haulers https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/104746/file/08487%20sample.pdf

Sample Compliance Agreement for Landscape/Lawn Maintenance

https://www.fdacs.gov/content/download/104747/file/08488%20sample.pdf

Starting at the NW corner of US Highway 19 and Ridge Road, proceed E on Ridge Road, S on Little Rd, W on Trouble Creek Rd., N on US Highway 19.

Treatment

Treatment to eradicate this pest will begin on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. Metaldehyde is a pesticide used to control snails and slugs and is approved for use in a variety of vegetable and ornamental crops in the field or greenhouse, on fruit trees, small-fruit plants, in avocado and citrus orchards, berry plants, banana plants and in limited residential areas. Available products can be applied as granules, sprays, dusts or bait pellets. Applications are typically made to the ground around the plants or crops to be protected.

Property owners inside the treatment area will be notified in person or by posted notice at least 24 hours in advance of the planned pesticide treatment.

Metaldehyde works by disrupting the mucus production ability of snails and slugs. This reduces their digestion and mobility and makes them susceptible to dehydration. Snails and slugs that have eaten metaldehyde often seek hiding places, become inactive and begin to die within days.

Public Health Information

Giant African land snails pose a serious health risk to humans by carrying the parasite rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans. The snails should not be handled without proper protection and sanitation.

Fact Sheet on Rat Lungworm Parasite (Florida Department of Health)

Rat Lungworm Information (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)