Water Restrictions

Year-Round Water Conservation Measures

Effective Date and Areas

  • The District’s year-round water conservation measures are in effect except where stricter measures have been imposed by local governments.
  • The measures shown below currently apply to all of Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Manatee, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter, Lake and Levy counties; the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the cities of Temple Terrace, Plant City and North Port. 
  • Some local governments such as unincorporated Hillsborough County and the cities of Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa have local ordinances with special twice-per-week schedules.
  • Some local governments such as unincorporated Hernando, Pasco and Sarasota counties, and the cities of Dunedin, Longboat Key, Sarasota and Venice, have local ordinances that remain on one-day-per-week schedules.

Lawn Watering Schedule and Times

  • Lawn watering is limited to no more than twice per week.
  • Lawn watering days and times are as follows unless your city or county has a different schedule or stricter hours in effect:
    • Even addresses may water on Thursday and/or Sunday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
    • Odd addresses may water on Wednesday and/or Saturday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
    • Locations without a discernable address, such as rights-of-way and common areas inside a subdivision, may water on Tuesday and/or Friday before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
  • Hand watering and micro-irrigation of plants (other than lawns) can be done on any day and any time.

New Lawns & Plants

  • New lawns and plants have a "30-30" establishment period.
  • On the day of installation, watering is allowed on any day at any time. 
  • During the first 30 days, watering is allowed on any day during the allowable hours. 
  • During the second 30 days, watering is allowed three days per week: even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; odd-numbered addresses may water Monday, Wednesday and Saturday; and locations without a discernable address may water on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.

Reclaimed Water

  • Reclaimed water remains subject to voluntary watering hours, unless blended with another water source or restricted by the local government or utility.

Fountains, Car Washing and Pressure Washing
  • There are no specific restrictions on fountains, car washing and pressure washing.
  • These and other water uses should be conducted as efficiently as possible, such as using a shutoff nozzle on each hose to adhere to the general restriction prohibiting wasteful water use.

Enforcement

City police and code enforcement officers will enforce the provisions of Ordinance 96-06, Water Shortage Emergency, within the municipal limits by issuing local citations and collecting fines in the same manner as local traffic infractions are enforced.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office will enforce the provisions of the ordinance within those areas of the city's utility service area that lie outside the municipal limits. A violation of the ordinance is a civil infraction and violators will be subject to the following penalties:


Violation Penalties

  • First Violation - $25.00
  • Second and Subsequent Violations - Not to exceed $500 per offense
Court Costs may be imposed as provided by law. Each day the violation continues shall be considered a separate violation.

Additional Information

If you need to familiarize yourself regarding restrictions and other requirements included in the Water Shortage Order, please the Water Matters website.