Water Use Restrictions

(page last reviewed: 11/13/08)

Limited rainfall, increasing irrigation demands and decreased flow in the Hillsborough River have caused Tampa’s reservoir level to decline and recover more slowly than in past years. The reservoir is Tampa’s primary drinking water source and Emergency Water Use Restriction Ordinance 2006-104, enacted in May 2006, helps ensure a sufficient quantity of drinking water for the Tampa community. Additionally, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has declared our region to be in an extreme water shortage under Water Shortage Order No. SWF 08-044, in effect through June 30, 2009. For more information about the SWFWMD declaration, visit their website at www.swfwmd.state.fl.us.

By using water efficiently you may also save money. Tampa's Schedule of Rates includes a multi-tier rate structure where the price of each billing unit of water increases as the quantity of water used in a billing cycle increases. This means that using more water will result in a higher utility bill due to the increased tier charges.

Current restrictions went into effect on May 4, 2006, under Emergency Water Use Restriction Ordinance 2006-104. These restrictions apply to all users of all water sources inside Tampa city limits including, but not limited to, private wells, surface water, and public or private utility-provided water. Additionally, Tampa is required to enforce any water use restrictions put in place by the SWFWMD that are more stringent than those in City Code. Violating these restrictions may result in fines ranging from $100 to $450 and a mandatory court appearance.

Water use restrictions for Tampa Water Department customers residing in unincorporated Hillsborough County are established and enforced by Hillsborough County Water Resource Services. Hillsborough County restrictions may be viewed at http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/water/restrictions/.  For more information about county water use restrictions, please call Hillsborough County Water Resource Services, Water Restriction Information Line at (813) 275-7094.

Important Telephone Numbers:

• (813) 274-8032 to hear a recorded partial summary of the restrictions
• (813) 274-8121 to call Customer Service (except billing). Billing questions should be directed to the Utility Accounting Division at 274-8811.
• (813) 274-8036 to report suspected violations (24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week), please leave a detailed message including location, day, time and type of violation. Suspected violations can also be reported online through our Customer Service Center. 

One Day Per Week Irrigation Restrictions:

• Addresses ending in an even number, or the letters A-M, may water on Tuesdays only.
   
• Addresses ending in an odd number, or the letters N-Z, may water on Sundays only.
   
• Watering on the designated day is allowed between midnight and 8 a.m. or 6 p.m. and midnight. Any one zone of a property may only be watered once during the allowable day, NOT both in the morning and again in the evening. Restricted hours apply to all irrigation with potable water - including automatic sprinklers, hose-end sprinklers, hand watering, micro-irrigation and other low volume methods. Low volume irrigation and low volume hand watering of new and established non-turf landscaping is not restricted to the day of the week.
   

Note: All water users in Tampa are subject to water use restrictions put in place both by City Ordinance and by SWFWMD (under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 40D-21). Tampa is required to enforce the provisions of SWFWMD restrictions unless Tampa's provisions are more restrictive. Emergency Orders issued by SWFWMD and their Water Shortage Plan are available online or by calling them at 1-800-423-1476 (FL only).

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