Hernando County Enters Extreme Water Shortage, Outdoor Watering Limited to Once Weekly

The most severe water shortage order in nearly a decade takes effect Thursday across Hernando County, and it carries immediate consequences for homeowners running irrigation systems on the wrong day or during daylight hours.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board declared a Modified Phase III "Extreme" Water Shortage, the first time since 2017 that such severe measures have been implemented. Hernando County posted notice to residents on March 30, confirming the county falls under the order. The restrictions apply countywide beginning April 3, 2026 and run through July 1.

Watering hours are now compressed to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., windows chosen to minimize evaporation loss during the heat of the day. Properties smaller than one acre may only use one of those two windows per week, not both. The order applies to all water use activities associated with lawn and landscaping, whether the source is publicly supplied drinking water, well water, ponds, lakes, or streams. That means no exemption for rural Spring Hill corridors or Brooksville-area properties served by private wells.

The district's standard schedule assigns watering days by the last digit of a property address: addresses ending in 0 or 1 water Monday, 2 or 3 on Tuesday, 4 or 5 on Wednesday, 6 or 7 on Thursday, and 8 or 9 on Friday. Residents should reprogram automatic irrigation controllers now, before tomorrow's start date.

On enforcement: starting 14 days after the effective date of the water shortage order, utilities and other local enforcement officials are to issue citations first without issuing a warning. That puts April 17 as the first date a violation triggers an immediate fine rather than a courtesy letter.

For homeowners worried about grass and ornamental plants dying under once-a-week watering, the order includes an important protection: no HOA or other entity shall enforce deed restrictions or other community standards requiring an increase in water use, including replacement of plant material to meet aesthetic standards. Landscaping that dies during the shortage cannot be mandated for replacement by a homeowners association through at least July 1.

Car washing at home is only allowed on the assigned lawn watering day using a hose with a shutoff nozzle. Aesthetic fountains are limited to four hours a day. Restaurants are required to serve water only upon request.

Landscapers, nurseries, and golf course operators face the most layered adjustments. Fairways and driving ranges may be irrigated no more than once per week; tees, course greens, and practice greens may be irrigated no more than three times per week; roughs shall not be irrigated at all. Commercial nurseries and agricultural operations may qualify for exemptions but must have documentation or permits in order.

The decision comes after the region recorded a 13.7-inch rainfall deficit over the past year, leaving aquifers, rivers, and lakes at unusually low levels. Outdoor water use accounts for more than 50 percent of water consumed by households, making irrigation schedules the single most effective lever available for reducing stress on the Floridan Aquifer.

Drought conditions are also driving elevated fire danger. The county's notice tied the shortage directly to wildfire risk, a point underscored by recent brush fire activity near Hernando Beach and the Weeki Wachee Preserve, where dry vegetation complicated containment efforts.

Residents who believe their property qualifies for a variance can contact SWFWMD at 1-800-848-0499 during normal business hours or email Water.Variances@WaterMatters.org. Full restriction details, including any Hernando-specific watering day adjustments, are published at WaterMatters.org/Restrictions. The county's utilities office can address questions specific to local service areas.