One-day-per-week watering restrictions extended until Sept. 1 due to prolonged drought conditions
Hillsborough County, Fla. (July 8, 2024) - It has been raining and rain is in the forecast, but don't let that trend fool you.
Hillsborough County Water Resources reminds residents that one-day-a-week watering restrictions in unincorporated Hillsborough County continue.
Recently, the Southwest Florida Management District Governing Board extended a modified Phase I Water Shortage Order one-day-per-week watering restriction until Sept. 1 due to prolonged drought conditions. That includes Hillsborough County.
The 12-month rainfall total through May in the Northern Region of the District matches the historical average, while it is below average in the Southern and the Central regions, which includes the Tampa Bay area, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
The restriction includes all lawn and landscape irrigation use in Hillsborough County from public supply, ponds, lakes, streams, and well water. These restrictions supersede the water use restrictions under normal year-round water conservation measures. The watering restrictions do not apply to residents who have reclaimed water for their lawn and landscape.
All properties in unincorporated Hillsborough County follow year-round watering days and hours. It's important to know your lawn watering days and hours to avoid getting a fine. Go to HCFL.gov/WaterRestrictions.
Watering days and hours in unincorporated Hillsborough County:
If your address (house or business) ends in
- 0 or 1, water only on Mondays
- 2 or 3, water only on Tuesdays
- 4 or 5, water only on Wednesdays
- 6 or 7, water only on Thursdays
- 8 or 9, water only on Fridays
Common areas with or without street addresses, locations with no address, and locations with mixed addresses (such as office complexes and shopping centers) can only water on Fridays.
All watering must be done either between midnight and 8 a.m. or between 6 p.m. and midnight, and only once on your designated day.
Following the watering days, hours, and rules is important to help conserve the region's limited water supply. If the one-day-per-week irrigation restrictions are properly adhered to, this could save 40% of the water normally used for irrigation. On peak irrigation days, that savings could equate to approximately 10 million gallons per day for Hillsborough County customers.
Learn more about watering rules for reclaimed water, new sod, landscaping, car washing, and more by visiting HCFL.gov/Water.
If you live in Tampa, Plant City, or Temple Terrace, it's important to research your municipality's watering restrictions.
Visit HCFL.gov/WaterRestrictions to learn more. Suspected violations can be reported online or by calling Hillsborough County's water violations reporting hotline at (813) 224-8993.