Modified phase III 'extreme' water shortage remains in place as drought conditions persist
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has extended watering restrictions until March 31, 2027, due to the prolonged drought across the Tampa Bay region.
This means the one-day-a-week irrigation restrictions remain in place.
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 adequately due to the lack of summer rainfall.
The one-day-per-week irrigation limits mean that residents, even those on private wells, can only use outdoor irrigation between 12:01 a.m. and 4 a.m., or 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. one day per week. Properties less than 1 acre in size may only use one of these windows.
Other restrictions include:
- Prohibition of non-commercial annual aesthetic pressure washing
- Hand watering and microirrigation limited to before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
- The use of any fountain or water feature is allowed provided it is properly maintained and also recycles water, exclusively uses reclaimed water, or provides a necessary water quality benefit. Fountain use is limited to four hours a day.
Know your watering days (one day per week until March 31, 2027)
If your address (house number) 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. Learn more at HCFL.gov/WaterRestrictions.