TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Watering restrictions across much of Tampa Bay will continue in the coming months.
The governing board for the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) met to determine whether drought-related water restrictions should remain in place beyond the current July 1 deadline.
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The region has been under a Modified Phase III Extreme Water Shortage since early April after a prolonged drought led to critically low water supplies. This designation will continue through October 1.
If board members vote to extend the order, residents across much of Southwest Florida will continue to follow the current watering restrictions.
Although recent rainfall has helped improve some conditions, officials said the region is still facing a significant water deficit.
According to SWFWMD, the district remains nearly 13.7 inches below its 12-month average rainfall. Groundwater levels, rivers, lakes, and public water supply reservoirs also remain well below normal for this time of year.
“It’s pretty severe,” said Michelle Hopkins, the district’s Regulation Division Director. “We have several parameters that we monitor. While we have had improvement in many of them, there are several that are still below normal. More importantly, our public supply reservoirs are low.”
The current restrictions affect residents in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, and several surrounding counties.
Under the emergency order:
Lawn irrigation is limited to one day per week.
Automatic irrigation is only allowed between 12:01 a.m. and 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m., depending on the property’s watering day.
Residents may still hand-water flower beds, shrubs and other plants any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
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