Tampa’s water department is ramping up enforcement patrols as the number of customers cited for breaking outdoor watering rules has climbed sharply compared to a year ago.
City officials say more than 430 customers have received citations since the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s drought-related watering restrictions took effect — a figure nearly 30% higher than at the same point last year.
Under the current SWFWMD restrictions, residents may run automatic irrigation systems once per week, only once on that day, and only during designated watering hours.
The city says many violations have occurred in high-use areas where customers regularly exceed 10,000 gallons of water per month. In response, the water department is increasing patrols in neighborhoods with a high concentration of violations and heavy water users.
Customers and businesses that violate the rules can face fines of $100 or more.
Residents can check specific watering rules for their city or county on the SWFWMD website and are encouraged to explore the city’s free water conservation resources, including irrigation evaluations and water-saving devices.
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