You are here: Home » Tampa Real Estate News » Tampa Water Restriction Rule in Effect

Tampa Water Restriction Rule in Effect

So far in 2008, the City of Tampa Water Enforcement Office has written more than 800 water use citations, 355 in the month of May alone. Current outdoor water use restrictions in Tampa, including limits on irrigation to one day per week, have been in effect since May 4, 2006, under Emergency Water Use Restriction Ordinance 2006-104.

Despite sporadic rainfall, the level and flow in the Hillsborough River – Tampa’s primary drinking water source - are still below normal levels. Continued conservation of potable water is needed to ensure adequate water supplies are available.

For those of you who may have forgotten or those new to the area, here is a quick summary of some of the provisions in Tampa’s Water Use Ordinance:

• 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.

• The 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.

• Violating Tampa’s restrictions may result in fines ranging from $100 to $450 and a mandatory court appearance.

• Information about restrictions of other water uses including: new lawns and landscapes, low volume irrigation, hand watering, irrigation system maintenance, chemical treatment, reclaimed water, car washing, pressure washing, recreational use, and fountains, as well as information on variances, can be found in the complete Emergency Water Use Restriction Ordinance 2006-104.

• Water use restrictions for Tampa Water Department customers residing in unincorporated Hillsborough County are established and enforced by Hillsborough County Water Resource Services. Information on Hillsborough County restrictions is available at (813) 275-7094.