US EditionWater Restrictions to Take Effect Amid Drought Conditions, Violators Could Be Fined
SWFWMD cites a 13-inch rainfall deficit and 25% drop in water supplies, enforcing one-day-per-week watering limits across multiple counties to conserve resources.
- The SWFWMD Governing Board voted Jan. 27 to declare a Modified Phase II "severe" water shortage, imposing one-day-per-week watering from Feb. 8 through July 1 for residents, including private well users.
- A 13-inch regional rainfall deficit has left supplies down by 25%, with aquifers, rivers and lakes declining, the Southwest Florida Water Management District reported.
- The district set an address-based watering schedule: 0–1 Monday, 2–3 Tuesday, 4–5 Wednesday, 6–7 Thursday, 8–9 and no-address Friday, with properties under two acres limited to specific times and low-volume watering allowed any day.
- Local utilities are required to enforce restrictions and report to SWFWMD, as outdoor irrigation accounts for more than 50% of household water use and Tampa Bay Water’s reservoir holds nine billion of 15 billion gallons.
- Forecasts show Michelle Hopkins of SWFWMD urges residents to conserve water, saying `We need a little bit of rain, that would be great`, amidst low rainfall predictions and an outside chance of snow flurries on Saturday.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Water restrictions to take effect amid drought conditions, violators could be fined
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) - New water restrictions will take effect across the Tampa Bay region beginning February 8, as drought conditions persist. The Southwest Florida Water Management District voted to declare a 'Modified Phase II "Severe" Water Shortage' due to the ongoing dry conditions. As a result of that declaration, residents in Manatee County [...]
Water authority's restrictions include Manatee, Sarasota
Once-a-week restrictions on outdoor irrigation were ordered this week by the regional authority that manages water resources from Citrus to Charlotte counties — including Manatee and Sarasota.The governing board of the Southwest Water Management District declared a modified phase 2 “severe” water shortage in the region, with restrictions becoming mandatory on Feb. 8.The district reported below-average rainfall during the 2025 summer rainy season…
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