Jane Castor says regional drought leaves ‘less room for improvisation’ 

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says residents will face stricter limits on outdoor water use starting this week in response to the “worst drought in 15 years.”

Lawn watering in Tampa — and across many counties in the region — will now be restricted to one assigned day per week, and only during nighttime hours between “12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.”

The new restrictions follow action by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which has moved the region into a Modified Phase III Extreme Water Shortage Order. That requires all residents, including those on private wells, to follow one-day-per-week watering restrictions with stricter watering hours.

The drought is not affecting Hillsborough County alone. The District restrictions apply throughout the region, including all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties. Other affected areas include portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties, the city of Dunnellon, The Villages in Marion County, and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Charlotte County.

“You’ve seen me talk about our current drought. You’ve probably rolled your eyes at your sprinkler timer or side-eyed your neighbor watering on the wrong day,” Castor said in her Monday newsletter. “Well, starting this week, there will be a lot less room for improvisation.”

Castor emphasized that compliance with the restrictions takes precedence over neighborhood aesthetic standards, noting that homeowners associations cannot penalize residents for brown lawns if they are following the rules. Other restrictions include limiting car washing at home to designated watering days and requiring hoses to have automatic shutoff nozzles. Hand watering and drip irrigation remain permitted but must also follow the same overnight schedule.

“Brown is the new green, at least until the rainy season shows up,” Castor said.

The city is also offering free outdoor water kits with shutoff nozzles to residents. They can be requested online through the city of Tampa website.

“We are all in this dry stretch together. I appreciate you doing your part,” Castor said.

Castor’s weekly update also highlights several upcoming community events and initiatives across the city, including a public meeting on the Lois Avenue design project at 5 p.m. on March 31 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, the return of the Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta at Lykes Gaslight Park at 11 a.m. on April 1, and the monthly Rock the Park concert series at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park at 6 p.m. on April 2.

Additional events include the Tampa Firefighters 5K on April 4, Tampa Fire Rescue’s annual open house on April 11, and the city’s first Earth Fair on April 19.