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.<\/p>\n
The district\u2019s governing board voted Sept. 22 to extend the Modified Phase III \u201cExtreme\u201d Water Shortage, which requires all residents, including those on private wells, to continue following one-day-per-week watering restrictions with strict watering hours. <\/p>\n
This is the second extension to the current order and there are no changes to the restrictions.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Area rivers and lakes, as well as public water supplies, have not been replenished due to the lack of summer rainfall. <\/p>\n
Tampa Bay Water\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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