New Water Restrictions Start Friday For 3 Tampa-Area Counties

TAMPA, FL — Residents of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties will be limited to watering their lawns once per week under new water regulations that went into effect Friday.

Earlier this month, the Southwest Florida Water Management District declared a water shortage in multiple counties, including the three in the Tampa Bay area and other portions of southwest Florida.

The restrictions, which were put in place on Nov. 21, remain in effect through July 1, 2024, except where stricter measures have been imposed by local governments, according to the agency.

Under the new once-per-week guidelines, residents of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties should only water their lawns at the following times.

If an 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, or other locations without a discernible address: Water only on Friday.

The following restrictions put in place last month prohibit "wasteful and unnecessary” water, including, "allowing water to be dispersed without any practical purpose, using water in a grossly inefficient manner, and using water for a purpose that can be readily accomplished by other means."

The original restrictions apply to all of Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Lake and Levy counties; the city of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and a portion of Gasparilla Island in Lee County, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District.