PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – The grass in Pinellas County is about to get a lot thirstier. Following a prolonged stretch of below-average rainfall that has left regional water supplies struggling, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has officially triggered a Phase II Water Shortage Order.
For residents and business owners, this means a mandatory shift to a strict one-day-per-week watering schedule effective immediately.
This isn’t just a local hiccup; the order covers a broad sweep of the region under SWFWMD’s jurisdiction, but Pinellas County Utilities is wasting no time in tightening the taps to protect what’s left in the reservoirs.
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Local officials are urging everyone to cut back on any unnecessary water use, warning that these restrictions are currently set to remain in place through July 1, 2026.
The new rules are specific and depend entirely on where you live and what your house number is. For those located south of SR580—which includes the entire stretch of Treasure Island—the calendar is now your most important gardening tool.
If your home address ends in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8), your designated watering day is Tuesday. If your address ends in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7, or 9), you’ll have to wait until Thursday to turn on the sprinklers.
This “odd-even” logic also extends to locations without a standard street number, such as common areas in housing developments, office complexes, and shopping centers.
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These sites are categorized as “Mixed or No Address” locations and must follow the Thursday schedule. Regardless of which day you are assigned, there is a hard ban on watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the hottest part of the day when evaporation rates are highest. This rule applies to all water sources, including potable (drinking) water and reclaimed water.
Because environmental conditions can shift, the county is asking residents to keep a close eye on the Pinellas County Utilities water restrictions webpage at pinellas.gov/watering-schedule-and-rules.
While the current order is slated for the next several months, the district has the authority to change or tighten these rules at any time if the dry spell continues. For now, the message from the water district is clear: conserve today to ensure there is enough for tomorrow.
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