District Water Restrictions

Year-round water conservation measures limit lawn watering to twice per week.

Phase I Water Shortage Restrictions

Always refer to your city or county regulations first.

Effective Date and Areas

• The District’s Phase I water shortage restrictions went into effect on Dec. 1, 2010 and are scheduled to expire on July 31, 2013.
• Phase I restrictions apply to all of Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Manatee, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Lake and Levy counties; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Lee County, except where stricter measures have been imposed by local governments.
• Phase III restrictions are scheduled to begin on March 13, 2013 and expire on July 31, 2013, and affect Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
• The City of Clearwater and St. Pete have local ordinances that allow one-day-per-week restrictions on a special schedule.

• Marion County follows the St. Johns River Water Management District’s water restrictions; however, the City of Dunnellon and The Villages remain under the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s water restrictions.
• Some local governments such as Hernando, Pasco and Sarasota counties have local ordinances and choose to remain on one-day-per-week restrictions.

Lawn Watering Days and Times

• Lawn watering is limited to 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 other 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.

Irrigation Systems

• Residents are asked to check their irrigation systems to ensure they are working properly. This means testing and repairing broken pipes and leaks, and damaged or tilted sprinkler heads.
• Residents should also check their irrigation timer to ensure the settings are correct and the rain sensor is working properly in accordance with state law.

New Lawns and Plants

• New lawns and plants have a 30-30 establishment period, which allows any-day watering during the first 30 days 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 restricted by the local government or utility.

Fountains, Car Washing and Pressure Washing

• There are no restrictions on fountains, car washing and pressure washing. However, the District asks that residents be as efficient as possible, such as using a shutoff nozzle on their hose so water isn’t wasted.

Water Utilities

• Water utilities and their local governments are expected to review and revise water restriction enforcement procedures, submit monthly enforcement reporting and communicate with customers about water restrictions and water conservation.

View map of

Lawn Watering

Water Shortage Orders 

Phase I
Fact Sheets 

Summary

For more detailed information, view these fact sheets 

Tips for Sod Replacement

• For Homeowners
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