St. Johns County homeowners with automatic sprinkler systems should check their irrigation timers after clocks fell back on Nov. 1, Action News Jax reported.

The time change can shift programmed watering into prohibited hours or wrong days if controllers are not manually updated. Under the Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declared by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), landscape irrigation is limited to one day per week. Sprinklers cannot run between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

That stricter blackout window applies because of the drought order, not the standard seasonal schedule. Without the Phase III declaration, the normal Eastern Standard Time rules would prohibit watering only between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to the SJRWMD watering restrictions page.

Which day you can water

Your assigned watering day depends on your address:

  • Odd-numbered addresses (ending in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) or no address: Saturday
  • Even-numbered addresses (ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8): Sunday
  • Nonresidential properties: Tuesday

On your assigned day, irrigation is limited to no more than three-quarters of an inch of water per zone and no more than one hour per zone.

Why it matters now

The SJRWMD declared the Phase III Extreme Water Shortage on May 11, affecting St. Johns, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau and Putnam counties. The district cited below-average rainfall, declining groundwater levels and reduced river flows, according to a St. Johns County press release.

Neal Shinkre, director of the St. Johns County Utilities Department, said in the county's May announcement that small actions like adjusting irrigation schedules, checking systems for leaks and watering only when necessary "can make a meaningful difference during dry periods."

The drought order is temporary. As of late October 2026, it remained in effect. The SJRWMD has said conditions are monitored regularly, and additional restrictions could follow if drought conditions worsen.

Steps to take

The SJRWMD recommends homeowners:

  • Adjust the irrigation timer so the system runs only on the assigned day and only between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.
  • Inspect and repair leaks, broken pipes and misaligned sprinkler heads.
  • Confirm the rain sensor or soil moisture sensor is working so the system does not run after adequate rainfall.
  • Use low-volume irrigation such as micro-irrigation or hand-watering for plants and shrubs instead of watering entire lawn areas.

Nocatee residents on JEA reclaimed water have separate assigned zone watering days. Those homeowners can look up their zone on JEA's website, according to the SJRWMD.

Homeowners can call the SJRWMD irrigation hotline at 386-329-4545 or visit the district's watering restrictions page for current rules.