Tampa mayor pushing to make city watering restrictions permanent

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa city leaders, including Mayor Jane Castor, are pushing to make the current temporary water restrictions permanent, following a press conference in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa on Monday.

The restrictions began on Dec. 1, mandating that residents in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties could only water their lawns once a week.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District initially declared a modified phase one water shortage due to ongoing dry conditions throughout the region.

READ: Here’s when Bay Area residents can water their lawns under new restrictions

And even though it has rained consistently as of late, the rainfall deficit for the past year is 7 ½ inches. The lakes, rivers, and reservoirs also aren't at normal levels yet.

Water levels at the CW Bill Young Reservoir in Lithia that supplies Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties are at just 20%. The once-a-week restrictions were set to expire in July, but the management district extended the rules until Sept. 1.

Tampa leaders said, since the restrictions started, we've dropped our water usage by about 4 million gallons a day. And watering your lawn accounts for about half of a home's water usage, they say.

READ: Tracking the Tropics: Tropical wave brewing in Atlantic has increased chances of development

"By cutting that down to once a week and using Florida-friendly, irrigation-friendly landscaping in your yard, you can have a beautiful yard and save our most precious resource: water," said Mayor Castor.

Castor said the city needs to prepare for future droughts and an exploding population that's nearly doubled in the last two decades. The water supply, however, is the same as it was in 2001: an allotment of 82 million gallons a day.

Currently, Tampa residents can't water their lawns between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., and your watering day depends on the last digit of your address.

Tampa City Council will vote on the potential change on Thursday.

SIGN UP: Click here to sign up for the FOX 13 daily newsletter