Businesses and property owners across Pinellas County will face tighter watering restrictions through March 31, 2027, after rainfall over the past year fell 15.4 inches below normal.
Summer storms have helped, but not enough. Lakes, rivers and the aquifer remain unusually low for this time of year, leading the Southwest Florida Water Management District to extend its “Extreme” Water Shortage Order for Pinellas County and surrounding areas.
For Pinellas County Utilities customers, that generally means one watering day each week for properties using potable, well or lake water. Reclaimed-water customers can water up to twice a week, with the exact day depending on their address and whether they are north or south of State Road 580.
Shopping centers, office complexes, common areas and other properties without numbered addresses have designated watering days, too. Watering is limited to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., with properties smaller than one acre allowed to use only one of those windows and larger properties allowed to use both.
Pinellas County Utilities staff are required to issue $193 fines for violations. Properties that get their water from another utility should check with that provider because their watering schedule may be different.