District Declares Modified Phase III Water Shortage

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted today to declare a Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage due to ongoing drought conditions throughout the region, which requires all residents, including those on private wells, to follow one-day-per-week watering restrictions with stricter watering hours.

Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, watering hours are reduced to 12:01 a.m. 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.

The restrictions apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota 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 from April 3, 2026, through July 1, 2026.

The District received below-average rainfall during its summer rainy season and currently has a 13.7-inch regional rainfall deficit compared to the average 12-month total. In addition, water levels in the District’s water resources, such as aquifers, rivers, and lakes, are continuing to decline, and many are severely abnormal. Moreover, public water supplies are extremely low for this time of year.

Outdoor water use accounts for more than 50 percent of water consumed by households, and residents should know and follow their local watering restrictions as well as conserve water wherever possible. Residents should check with their city or county for their allowable days and times, as many have different schedules or stricter hours in effect. Below is the standard schedule:

• If your address (house number) ends in...
• ...0 or 1, water only on Monday
• ...2 or 3, water only on Tuesday
• ...4 or 5, water only on Wednesday
• .6 or 7, water only on Thursday
• ...8 or 9*, water only on Friday
• * and locations without a discernible address
• Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, properties one acre or larger may only water before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m.
• Low-volume watering of plants and shrubs (micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering) is allowed any day but is limited to before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

Other restrictions listed in the Modified Phase III Water Shortage Order include:

• Pressure washing in preparation for painting and sealing is allowed.
• No HOA or other entity shall enforce deed restrictions or other community standards that require an increase in water use, including the replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards or pressure washing.
• Car washing at home (non-commercial) is only allowed on your lawn watering day, and you must use a hose with a shutoff nozzle.
• Aesthetic fountains are limited to four hours a day. The regular hours of operation can be selected by the owner, but must be posted.
• Restaurants are required to only serve water upon request.

Public Water Supply Utility Requirements:

The order also requires local utilities to continue implementing water conservation efforts, including customer education about the current water shortage and ways to conserve water. Water utilities and other local enforcement officials must increase their enforcement efforts, including responding to citizen complaints and monitoring water use through patrols or customer records. Starting 14 days after the effective date of the water shortage order, utilities and other local enforcement officials are to issue citations first without issuing a warning.

The District continues to monitor the drought conditions, and we are coordinating with our utility and regional water supply partners, such as Tampa Bay Water and the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority.

The District issued three emergency orders on Thursday, March 19, to ensure water supply availability during the ongoing drought:

• An emergency order was issued to Tampa Bay Water to lower the Middle Pool of the Tampa Bypass Canal from 12 feet to 10 feet to continue augmenting the City of Tampa’s Hillsborough River Reservoir. The order expires July 1, 2026.
• An emergency order was issued to the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority to modify its diversion schedule to allow increased withdrawals from the Peace River. The order expires May 31, 2026.
• An emergency order was issued to the City of Punta Gorda to temporarily withdraw up to an additional 2.2 million gallons per day from Shell Creek to provide to the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority. The order expires July 1, 2026.

For additional information about the Modified Phase III Water Shortage Order, visit the District’s website WaterMatters.org/Restrictions. For water conserving tips, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.