TAMPA, Fla. — New rules on when you can and can’t use water for cleaning and lawn care take effect Tuesday across the Tampa Bay region.

Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, Hernando and Citrus counties are all entering a Phase 1 Water Shortage Order on Nov. 21, mandated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

That means that the "wasteful use of water" is now prohibited and what that means can vary slightly from county to county. In Tampa, where some of the more strict rules are in effect, it means starting Tuesday residents can no longer hose off their driveways or sidewalks.

The bigger changes affecting only Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties take effect on Dec. 1 when a Modified Phase 1 Water Shortage Order kicks in.

Starting that day, residents will only be able to water their lawns once a week and it must be on the predetermined day.

While we saw rain last week, officials with the city of Tampa’s water conservation department said it wasn’t enough compared to the 9-inch rainfall deficit the region is in.

“It did have some impact in raising slightly the reservoir level, but it doesn’t mitigate the fact that as a region the levels are lower than what they’re supposed to be and what they typically are at this time of the year,” explained Sonia Quinones, a supervisor in the city’s water department. “We typically would have had a busy, active rainy season and the reservoir the aquifer would have been topped off really nicely. So we’re grateful for the rain, but it hasn’t made a significant impact.”

Quinones says the city of Tampa will be enforcing the water shortage order and issuing citations to those not in compliance. She says they don’t plan to give homeowners warnings, but fines will be issued on the first offense.

According to Pinellas County officials, customers should refer to this schedule for watering information.

If you water on the wrong day or time, you could get a $100 fine in the mail. Repeat offenses mean fines will go up to $200 and after that, a mandatory court appearance will be required. In Hillsborough County, fines top out at $500.

“We don’t want to issue citations, we’re not in the business of issuing citations, we’re in the business of delivering safe and clean drinking water. We just want folks to know it’s a precious resource and we have to work together as a community. Water conservation only works when the entire community cooperates and does their part,” Quinones said.

The order is in effect through July 1, 2024.