Outdoor watering limited as Southwest Florida Water Management District enforces Phase III restrictions
Water restrictions are now in place for the Siesta Key, Gulf Gate and Sarasota region. A historic statewide drought is impacting Sarasota and many other areas of Florida. Although the region benefited from several April rainstorms, severe drought conditions remain.
All of Sarasota County remains in a Modified Phase III Extreme Water Shortage under Southwest Florida Water Management District Phase III watering restrictions.
The regional drought conditions have also put the area at a high risk for wildfires. Although Sarasota County lifted a burn ban April 14 that was implemented in October 2025 after the drought index dropped for seven consecutive days and lessened the chance of wildfires, residents are still urged to use extreme caution to prevent fires. Residents are asked to clear trash and dead vegetation from yards and to remove leaves and debris from gutters, rooftops and under decks. When grilling and camping, use caution and never discard cigarettes. On very dry, windy days, delay using lawn mowers and other equipment that could create a spark. Visit scgov.net/fire to learn more about fire safety…