Measure necessary because of ongoing drought
The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board has voted to declare a Modified Phase II “Severe” Water Shortage because of dry conditions throughout the region, the District has announced.
That declaration “requires all residents, including those on private wells, in multiple cities and counties” — Sarasota County among them — “to follow one-day-per-week watering restrictions,” a District news release points out.
The new limitation will be in effect from Feb. 8 through July 1, the release says. It applies also to all of Manatee, DeSoto, Citrus, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, 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, the release adds.
With the District’s territory having received below-average rainfall in 2025 during what is traditionally the summer rainy season, it “has a 13-inch regional rainfall deficit compared to the average 12-month total,” the release stresses.
“In addition,” the release notes, levels in the District’s water resources, “such as aquifers, rivers and lakes, are continuing to decline and many are below normal. Public water supplies in the Tampa Bay area are lower than expected at this time of year,” the release points out.
Outdoor water use accounts for more than 50% of water consumed by households,” the release notes.
As The Sarasota News Leader has reported, Sarasota County Emergency Services Director Rich Collins and Sarasota County Fire Chief David Rathbun provided a presentation to the County Commission on Jan. 13, stressing their concerns about wildfires because of the drought.
They noted that the county has had a burn ban in effect since Oct. 11, 2025.
Sarasota County’s watering restrictions
Residents should know and follow their local watering restrictions, the District release continues. They should check with their city or county for their allowable day and times, “as many have different schedules or stricter hours in effect,” the release adds.
In Sarasota County, the following restrictions are in place:
- “Irrigation for sites with addresses that end in the numbers 0 or 1 may occur only on Monday.
- “Irrigation for sites with addresses that end in the numbers 2 or 3 may occur only on Tuesday.
- “Irrigation for sites with addresses that end in the numbers 4 or 5 may occur only on Wednesday.
- “Irrigation for sites with addresses that end in the numbers 6 or 7 may occur only on Thursday.
- “Irrigation for sites with addresses that end in the numbers 8 or 9 may occur only on Friday.
- “Irrigation for sites with addresses that end in the letters A through Z and common area landscaping with no address assigned (i.e., entranceways to developments, median and roadside plantings, around clubhouses, and recreational elements) shall be irrigated only on Saturday.”
Further, the county webpage with the above details emphasizes the following:
- “The maximum amount of water applied is limited to three-quarters of an inch in each irrigation zone, on each allowable watering day. Irrigation is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any allowable day.
- “Fountains and waterfalls may operate only eight hours per day. No special watering allowances will be granted for verticutting or over-seeding.”
- Non-commercial washing of vehicles at homes is allowed only “on your lawn watering day.”
The District news release does note that low-volume watering of plants and shrubs “(micro-irrigation, soaker hoses, hand watering) is allowed any day and any time.”
It also points out, “No [homeowners association] or other entity shall enforce deed restrictions or other community standards requiring an increase in water use, including replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards or pressure washing.”
Sarasota County staff does encourage the public to report violations of the water restrictions. Staff asks that persons call the Public Utilities Customer Service Office at 941-861-6790 or send an email to utilitybill@scgov.net. “Please include day/date/time and address of the violation,” the water restrictions website adds.
For further information about the Modified Phase II Water Shortage Order, visit the District’s website WaterMatters.org/Restrictions. For water conservation tips, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.