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Citrus County under phase 3 water shortage; outdoor irrigation cut to one day a week
Summary
Citrus County officials announced a phase 3 water shortage that limits outdoor irrigation to one day weekly during restricted overnight or late-evening hours, moves enforcement to immediate citations, and notes lake and aquifer levels are at rare historic lows.
Citrus County is under a phase 3 water shortage order that significantly restricts outdoor water use and moves enforcement from warnings to citations, county speakers said during a public briefing.
A county staff member said the order means “all residents and citizens in Citrus County should be mindful of their water use,” and stressed that local water bodies and groundwater are very low. The presenter explained that lakes such as Lake Nenina are connected to the upper Floridan aquifer, so when the aquifer drops the lakes decline as well.
An agency official said the water-shortage order is governed by the Florida Administrative Code and outlined the limits residents must follow: outdoor irrigation is allowed one day a week on the assigned day during either 12:00 a.m.–4:00 a.m. or 8:00 p.m.–11:59 p.m.; homeowners who cannot run all irrigation zones were advised to prioritize zones or limit watering to about 3/4 of an inch per zone. The official added that when watering plants (not turf) it is permissible to do so before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m., and that hoses should have a shutoff nozzle to prevent waste.
The official also explained allowed and discouraged activities: car washing is permitted on a resident’s assigned watering day provided the hose has a shutoff nozzle; driveways and sidewalks should not be pressure washed for purely aesthetic reasons, although pressure washing is allowed when performed in preparation for painting or sealing. Crucially, the official said that under phase 3 the local enforcement approach does not issue warnings and instead proceeds directly to citation, per the order.
A representative of the Southwest Florida Water Management District provided historical context, saying the district has measured water levels on Lake Nenina since 1987 and that levels lower than today have been recorded only three other times in the past 40 years — a point underscoring the rarity of the current conditions.
Residents seeking to conserve water were advised to prioritize essential outdoor irrigation, use nozzles that shut off when hoses are not in use, and defer nonessential pressure washing. Officials did not announce a timeline for lifting the order during the briefing.
The county emphasized that the order and the accompanying enforcement posture are set by state rules in the Florida Administrative Code and urged residents to follow the restrictions until conditions improve.
