The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board voted March 24 to declare a Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage due to ongoing drought conditions throughout the region. All residents, including those on private wells, are to follow one-day-per-week watering restrictions with new hours in effect.
Beginning April 3, watering hours are reduced to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect. 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.