The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has escalated its drought response, voting Tuesday to implement Phase III of its Water Shortage Plan — and eliminating the warning step for residents who break watering rules.

Under the new rules, local governments can now issue citations directly for watering-hour violations, with no prior warning. The district’s governing board declared a Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage, citing a 13.7-inch regional rainfall deficit that has left aquifers, rivers, lakes, and public water supplies severely below normal for this time of year.

Outdoor watering hours have been reduced to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., with residents limited to one of those windows. These reduced hours apply to properties under one acre and build on the existing one-day-per-week watering restriction already in place. The restrictions apply to all residents, including those on private wells.

Restaurants are now also required to serve water only upon customer request.

The Modified Phase III restrictions take effect April 3, 2026 and are set to expire July 1, 2026, covering all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter counties, along with portions of several other counties.

District Regulation Division Director Michelle Hopkins said officials are focused on ensuring storage reservoirs can be replenished ahead of the next dry season.

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