District Phase I Water Shortage Restrictions
Always refer to your city or county opens in a new windowregulations first.
Effective Date and Areas
- The District’s Phase I water shortage restrictions are in effect May 12, 2020 through July 1, 2020, except where stricter measures have been imposed by local governments.
- Phase I water shortage restrictions apply to portions of Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties.
- Some local governments such as unincorporated Hillsborough County and the cities of Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa have local ordinances with special twice-per-week schedules.
- Some local governments such as unincorporated Pasco and Sarasota counties, and the cities of Dunedin, Longboat Key, Sarasota and Venice, have local ordinances that remain on one-day-per-week schedules.
Summary of Restrictions and Other Requirements
Twice-per-week lawn watering schedules remain in effect unless local restrictions apply. In addition, the following activities should be executed:
- Test irrigation systems for leaks and efficiencies.
- Agricultural users should comply with all permit conditions and Best Management Practices.
- Golf courses should comply with all water use permit conditions and Best Management Practices; fairways/driving ranges should be irrigated twice per week; tees and green areas three times a week; nonplay areas should follow lawn and landscape irrigation days and times.
- All wasteful water use such as hosing down driveways and impervious surfaces, allowing water to flow unattended and using water in a grossly inefficient manner, is prohibited.
- Water utilities should review and update enforcement procedures, implement the ability to issue and process citations, refer complaints to the District, submit status report of enforcement activities to the District in 60 days and submit all monthly enforcement data to the District monthly.
Lawn Watering Days and Times
- Lawn watering is limited to no more than twice per week.
- Lawn watering days and times are as follows unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours in effect:
- 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 rights-of-way and common areas inside a subdivision, may water on Tuesday and/or Friday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
- Hand watering and micro-irrigation of plants (other than lawns) can be done on any day and any time.
