South Hillsborough Wellfield

Later this year, Tampa Bay Water will request that its board of directors approve moving forward with design and construction of the South Hillsborough Wellfield. This project was shortlisted in Tampa Bay Water’s 2018 and 2023 Long-term Master Water Plans and was deemed feasible in 2021 through a detailed study that analyzed technical, environmental and economic aspects of the project.   

If approved and permitted, the South Hillsborough Wellfield could bring an additional 6-12 million gallons per day of high-quality drinking water to the region as early as 2030/2031. This project produces a net benefit to the aquifer in southern Hillsborough County by reducing historic pumping impacts.

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Project Overview

The proposed South Hillsborough Wellfield project involves building a new fresh groundwater wellfield in southern Hillsborough County at the intersection of Balm, Balm Riverview and Balm Boyette roads. Tampa Bay Water completed feasibility studies on this project in 2021 which show that the wellfield is technically feasible, environmentally sound and economical. Those findings were confirmed with a second aquifer performance test in 2023.  

To date, Tampa Bay Water has acquired five water use permits in south Hillsborough County that are no longer needed by area landowners. The amount of water that can be transferred from these permits to the South Hillsborough Wellfield totals 3.9-5.9 million gallons per day, depending on determinations to be made by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Tampa Bay Water plans to supplement the acquired permits by purchasing groundwater recharge credits from Hillsborough County.

Project Components

If the project is approved for design and construction, Tampa Bay Water anticipates building: 

  • Eight production wells   
  • 4-miles of 16- to 24-inch pipeline to deliver water to the treatment facility   
  • A 6-12-million-gallon per day groundwater treatment facility with ozone treatment   
  • Finished water storage tank  

Next Steps

  • Receive approval from Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors to build the project.  
  • Receive approval of a property agreement with Hillsborough County’s Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP) for well sites at the Stacy R White Nature Preserve   
  • Reach agreement on groundwater recharge credit pricing with Hillsborough County via its aquifer recharge program, which replenishes the coastal aquifer to prevent saltwater intrusion and increases groundwater levels several miles inland 
  • Submit permit applications to the Southwest Florida Water Management District   
  • Complete wellfield design; hire a construction manager and contractor 

Schedule

  • Tampa Bay Water Board Approval:  Late Summer/Fall 2025   
  • Initial Water Use Permit: end of 2025  
  • Professional Services Solicitation: 6 Months  
  • Design & Permitting: 24 months   
  • Construction: 15-18 months 
  • Wellfield online as early as 2030/2031   

Fast Facts:

SOURCE: Floridan Aquifer

PROJECT YIELD: 6 - 12 million gallons per day

KEY POINTS: new groundwater; net benefit to aquifer; within high growth area