The Tampa City Council has approved transitioning seasonal water restrictions into a year-round policy, at least temporarily.
Tampa Water Director Rory Jones addressed concerns about enforcement. “We are hearing that when citizens are calling in, they’re still seeing those individuals violate day-after-day,” Jones said.
Jones informed the council that efforts to catch people watering their grass more than once a week have intensified. Watering is also restricted to specific times based on property size.
“We have amped up our patrols, and the number of hours we are patrolling,” Jones said.
With the new year-round restrictions in place, Council Member Bill Carlson assured the public that this is not a permanent measure. “If conditions change for some reason, we could change it,” Carlson said.
Most of the council supported the year-round rule. “I get it. It’s rainy season now, but it gets very, very dry,” Council Member Guido Maniscalco said. “We had a very dry time this year where people’s grass was dying.”
Despite supporting the measure, Carlson acknowledged some ongoing concerns. “Realtors are worried because you’re trying to show a house and if they come on the sixth day, then the grass is brown,” Carlson said.
Councilwoman Gwendylyn Henderson was absent, and Councilman Luis Viera voted “no.” Viera expressed concerns that homeowners might argue their grass is dying due to the new restrictions, which could lead to penalties from their HOA.
“Fleshing that more out. Giving homeowners more protections if they really do believe this restriction adversely affects their lawn because trust me, I’ve been fined,” Viera said.
The council may make amendments as the water supply changes and as residents ask more questions. WFLA initially published the story.
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