SARASOTA, Fla. — Thousands of residents in Sarasota and Manatee counties are now subject to immediate fines for watering violations as authorities look to enforce drought-driven irrigation restrictions, with citations starting at $100 issued without prior warning.
Under the current Phase III restrictions mandated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, homeowners may irrigate only on their assigned day and only during two windows: midnight to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to midnight. The restrictions remain in effect through July 1.
Brooke Bailey, Sarasota County’s public utilities director, said roughly 20 million gallons of water flows out to the community each day and does not return — “which is a lot that’s usually going out into the environment,” she said…