‘Extreme’ Water Shortage restrictions extended through March 31, 2027, by vote of SWFWMD Governing Board

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Water Management District cites below-average rainfall for summer rainy seasons in 2025 and this year

These graphics provide details about the shortage of rainfall. Image courtesy Southwest Florida Water Management District

On Sept. 22, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board voted to extend the Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage through March 31, 2027, because of the

ongoing drought conditions throughout the region, the District announced.

That action “requires all residents, including those on private wells, to continue following one-day-per-week watering restrictions with strict watering hours,” a District news release points out.

This image shows Sarasota County drought conditions as of Sept. 22. The image is provided by the U.S. Drought Monitor, whose webpages are available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To ‘Learn More,’ visit this link.

This is the second extension of the Modified Phase III Water Shortage Order, the release notes. No changes to the restrictions were provided, it adds.

Previously, the Governing Board voted to maintain the watering restrictions through Oct. 1.

“The District received below-average rainfall during both its 2025 and 2026 summer rainy seasons,” the release points out, with emphasis. The 12-month rainfall deficit through August was 15.4 inches, it says. Area rivers and lakes, along with public water supplies, “have not been replenished” as a result of the lack of summer rainfall, the release adds. For example, it notes, Tampa Bay Water’s C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir had only 7.87 billion gallons in storage as of Sept. 20, “which is about half its storage capacity.”

This Sarasota County graphic shows rainfall amounts through July of this year. The diamonds within each segment of the bar graph represent the average rainfall for that month, based on in previous years’ data. Image courtesy Sarasota County Government, via the Water Atlas

Watering hours remain reduced from midnight to 4 a.m., or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., the release says. Properties comprising less than 1 acre may use only one of those windows, it points out. Owners of properties having 1 or more acres may water only before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m., the release stresses.

The restrictions apply to all of Sarasota, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk 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.