Project IRIS is the City's reclaimed water project: In-City Reclamation Irrigation System. This system provides reclaimed water for irrigation to a number of area parks, commercial green spaces, residential lawns and landscaping. reclaimed water is a viable alternative to using drinking water for landscape irrigation.

Reclaimed water is recycled wastewater that has been highly treated, filtered and disinfected for the irrigation of landscape areas. Boca Raton's reclaimed water system delivers recycled water to customers through its own reclaimed water distribution system, completely separate from our drinking water system.

In the past, this highly treated wastewater has been essentially 'thrown away' by discharging it into the Ocean. Yet, studies showed us that the typical Boca Raton customer poured as much as 70% of their drinking water each month onto lawns and landscaping. reclaimed water is a way to conserve a valuable resource by reducing the amount of drinking water used as irrigation, and the IRIS program offers other benefits to customers at the same time.

Reclaimed water is safe. Many safeguards are built into every water reclamation facility, and the water is tested to meet national, state and local regulatory standards. The City of Boca Raton meets or exceeds all of these regulatory standards for its production of reclaimed water. Simply put, this water cannot leave the plant until it has been fully tested for safety and water quality.

Reclaimed water is not intended for consumption, but it poses no threat to public health from accidental contact. reclaimed water is actively used in more than 1,900 locations around the country, about 400 of them here in Florida. Some communities on the western side of Florida have had a similar successful urban irrigation reclaimed water program in place for more then 20 years.

Once your in-ground sprinkler system is officially hooked up to reclaimed water, you can irrigate any time that you wish, without having to worry about watering restrictions.

City Code, Article 2, Section 17-57(1) Application states: The provisions of this section shall apply during all periods of time in which no water use restrictions, as provided in sections 17-55 and 17-56, are in effect. The provisions of this section shall apply to all use of water for irrigation regardless of source, except:

1. reclaimed water may be utilized for irrigation purposes each day of the week from 5:00pm - 8:00am, and
2. irrigation with reclaimed water by golf courses shall be exempt from all day of he week and time restrictions

While reclaimed water helps to conserve precious drinking water, the supply is not without a limit. We suggest that you treat it as any other resource, and water wisely.

IRIS water is for irrigation and back-up fire protection. While accidental contact with IRIS water is safe, reclaimed water is not meant for drinking, cooking, bathing, swimming pools, hot tubs, pets, or indoor use.

Please treat IRIS as the valuable resource it is, and water only as much as necessary. And of course, we need to remind you of the many things that IRIS is not intended for, including:

Phase I made it possible to provide reclaimed water services to Boca Raton's Sabal Park/Pinelands area, Florida Atlantic University, Mizner Park and a number of commercial green spaces along the Federal Highway. With the completion of Phase II, the City has added over 400 single-family customers as well as condominiums and golf courses in the southeastern part of the city. The City has expanded the system to the northwest making it available to Lynn University and for use along Spanish River Blvd. west of I-95. Future phases are already being planned.

Installation costs will vary according to the meter size the homeowner uses. If your home currently has a 1 1/2'' water meter, a 1" IRIS meter may suffice, and could save some homeowner costs. Costs for a 1" meter include $225 for the installation, payable in six bimonthly bills, a $35 permit application fee, and costs associated with the actual plumbing hook-up. These costs will vary depending on which licensed plumbing or sprinkler contractor you choose to provide the hook-up services, or if you do the hook-up yourself. Once in use, IRIS water is billed on a bimonthly basis.