Water Violations Up During Drought, As Water Department Expands Support Programs News General, News Water Department As extreme drought conditions continue across the Tampa Bay[...]

As extreme drought conditions continue across the Tampa Bay region, the Tampa Water Department is stepping up efforts to help residents reduce outdoor water use, lower utility costs, and avoid costly water restriction citations.

Under the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Modified Phase III Water Restrictions, residents are limited to operating automatic irrigation systems no more than one day per week and only during designated watering hours. In compliance with the District's water shortage order, the Tampa Water Department's water enforcement patrols have increased in areas with a high number of violation complaints or a concentration of high-water users.

Since the water shortage took effect on December 1, 2025, more than 430 Tampa Water Department customers have received citations for violating watering rules, nearly 30% higher than the same time last year. Many of those violations occurred in high-use areas, where customers often exceed 10,000 gallons of water use per month, placing them among the city's top residential water users.

Customers and businesses that fail to comply with mandatory watering restrictions may face fines beginning at $100 for a first violation.

To help residents avoid violations and conserve water, the Tampa Water Department is offering several free resources and incentives designed to improve water efficiency and reduce unnecessary use, including:

• Free One-on-One Irrigation Evaluations: Customers can use Tampa's online service request portal, [tampaconnect.com]Tampa Connect, to request a free on-site irrigation evaluation. They will receive help locating leaks, correcting irrigation controller issues, installing a free rain sensor, and finding ways to reduce water use to save money.
• Waived Reclaimed Water Fees: Through December 31, 2026, the Water Department application and meter installation fees will be waived for eligible customers who have access to reclaimed water but have not yet connected to the system
• Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Assistance: The Tampa Water Department has FFL Certified Professionals to help customers start their journey from over-irrigated turf to a water-wise yards.
• Free Water-Saving Devices: Residents can receive water-saving tools and leak detection devices to help improve efficiency inside the home.

The Department's irrigation evaluation program has already proven highly effective, with participating customers saving an average of 5,000 gallons of water per month after completing the assessment.

In the coming weeks, the Tampa Water Department will increase direct outreach to customers in high-use areas to ensure residents are aware of available conservation resources and drought requirements.

"We thank everyone who is already taking steps to conserve water and encourage more residents throughout our community to join the effort," said Water Department Director Rory Jones. "Protecting our water supply during this drought will take all of us working together to reduce waste and use water wisely."

Residents with questions about watering restrictions or conservation programs can contact the Tampa Water Department's Conservation and Efficiency Team at (813) 274-8121, Option 5, or email [email protected].