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04Dec
Know Your Day, Tampa Bay: Watering Restrictions in Effect as Region Remains in Rainfall Deficit
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News Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brandon Moore
bmoore@tampabaywater.org
(727) 791-2304 | (727) 470-0702

CLEARWATER, Fla. (Dec. 5, 2023) – The Tampa Bay region continues to experience drought conditions due to below-average rainfall. Residents in the Tampa Bay region should follow the recently updated watering restrictions and only water when needed and allowed.

Outdoor watering in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties is now limited to one day per week per the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) water shortage order that took effect on Dec. 1, 2023. Watering restrictions help reduce water waste during drought conditions because lawn watering accounts for up to 50 percent of residential water use.

“If residents are worried their lawns won’t receive enough water it’s important to know that, during fall and winter months, lawns only need water once every 10-14 days,” said Brandon Moore, public communications manager for Tampa Bay Water.

Check your watering day and find more ways to save at MyWaterDay.org.

“Individually, we make small changes in the ways we use water and, together, we make a big difference,” Moore said.

Tampa Bay Water announced the drought alert on Oct. 1 under the regional utility’s Water Shortage Mitigation Plan to proactively address water supply shortages. The Tampa Bay region remains in a Stage I Drought Alert.

Regional water facts as of Dec. 1, 2023:

  • Regional rainfall is at a 10.3 inch deficit averaged over the past 12 months.
  • Rainfall in November averaged about 2.2 inches, 0.2 inches above normal.
  • River flows are in a 6.4 million gallons per day (mgd) deficit averaged over the past 12 months.
  • Regional water demands in November averaged 205.34 mgd, 8 mgd higher than November 2022, but 11.90 mgd lower than October 2023.
  • The C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir is at 9.3 billion gallons, 60% of its 15.5-billion-gallon capacity, which helps maintain water supply to the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant.

About Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.5 million residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Water member governments include Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. To learn more, visit tampabaywater.org.