All residents under one-day-per-week watering restrictions 

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board recently voted to declare a Modified Phase II “Severe” Water Shortage due to dry conditions throughout the region, which requires all residents, including those on private wells, to follow one-day-per-week watering restrictions. https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/epermitting/district-water-restrictions

The restrictions apply to the entire region including DeSoto, Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties within the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority service area effective Feb. 8, 2026, through July 1, 2026.

Utilities customers in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties, along with the City of North Port, are being asked to conserve water during this Modified Phase II Water Shortage. As Florida moves into the dry season, the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority is asking communities and residents to use best practices for conserving water.

The District received below average rainfall during its summer rainy season and currently has a 13-inch regional rainfall deficit compared to the average 12-month total resulting in the Region’s water supply, such as aquifers, rivers and reservoirs, being at lower than normal conditions. The District continues to monitor the drier-than-normal hydrologic conditions and is coordinating with our utility and regional water supply partners such as the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority.

According to the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority’s Executive Director Richard Anderson, “The Authority currently has 3.6 billion gallons of water in our surface water storage, which is approximately 54% capacity with over 3 months remaining in our typical “dry” season. This represents the lowest February storage level we’ve seen in the past 15 years.”

Outdoor water use accounts for more than 50 percent of water consumed by households and residents should follow their local watering restrictions. Residents should check with their city or county for their allowable day and times as many have different schedules or stricter hours in effect. Below is the standard schedule:

• If your address (house number) ends in…
  1. …0 or 1, water only on Monday
  2. …2 or 3, water only on Tuesday
  3. …4 or 5, water only on Wednesday
  4. …6 or 7, water only on Thursday
  5. …8 or 9*, water only on Friday
  6. * and locations without a discernible address

The order also requires local utilities to review and implement procedures for enforcing water shortage restrictions, including reporting enforcement activity to the District.

For more information contact the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority call 941-316-1776 or visit www.Regionalwater.org.