TAMPA, Fla. (WWSB) – The Southwest Florida Water Management District has extended current water restrictions through March 31, 2027, due to ongoing drought conditions, the district announced Wednesday.
The district’s governing board voted Sept. 22 to extend the Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage, which requires all residents, including those on private wells, to continue following one-day-per-week watering restrictions with strict watering hours.
This is the second extension to the current order and there are no changes to the restrictions.
The District received below-average rainfall during both its 2025 and 2026 summer rainy seasons. The 12-month rainfall deficit through August 2026 is 15.4 inches.
Area rivers and lakes, as well as public water supplies, have not been replenished due to the lack of summer rainfall.
Tampa Bay Water’s C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir only has 7.87 billion gallons in storage as of Sept. 20, which is about half its storage capacity.
Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, watering hours remain reduced from midnight to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Properties less than one acre in size may only use one of these windows. Properties one acre or larger may only water before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
The restrictions apply to all of Sarasota and Manatee counties, as well as Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Charlotte County.
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