Tampa Bay Water Blog

During last year’s drought, Tampa Bay Water requested an Emergency Order from the Southwest Florida Water Management District to increase withdrawals from the Alafia River to refill our regional reservoir. The order, which expires March 31, 2025, increased the amount that Tampa Bay Water can withdraw above the established Minimum Flow threshold for the river from 10% to 19% and increased the maximum daily withdrawal from 60 million gallons of water per day (mgd) to 75 mgd. Over the past several months, Tampa Bay Water staff have been meeting with environmental organizations, such as the Tampa Bay Estuary Program’s technical...

Florida’s typical dry season is October to May, and for the past 27 years, Tampa Bay Water and its member governments have proclaimed April as Water Conservation Month to generate awareness of the need for water conservation during the driest months of the year. To help celebrate, this year Tampa Bay Water Wise is piloting new sprinkler system rebates that can help single family homeowners save some “green” while keeping their lawns green. “Much of the water used at a home actually ends up in the yard. In fact, often 50% or more of water used at home is used...

In February, Tampa Bay Water wrapped up a series of eight public meetings for the South Hillsborough Pipeline project, which will deliver up to 65 million gallons of water per day (mgd) to southern Hillsborough County when completed in 2028. Seven of the meetings were held in person at venues geographically located along the route. The eighth was a virtual meeting held via Zoom. The purpose of the meetings was to update residents on the pipeline design, highlight the types of construction to be used, and answer questions. Summaries and presentations from those meetings are available at SouthHillsboroughPipeline.com. Tampa Bay...

Cooler weather and nearly normal rainfall have lessened water use during the region’s typical dry season. In February, regional demand was 192.2 million gallons of water per day (mgd), down from the 195.0 mgd that had been projected. From October 2024 to February 2025, annual demand averaged 195.1 mgd, or 14.6 mgd less than the 209.7 mgd Tampa Bay Water anticipated. In February, the 12-month running averages for both the Consolidated Water Use Permit and the South-Central Regional Wellfield were below their limits at 86.83 mgd (90 mgd limit), and 24.78 mgd (24.95 mgd limit), respectively. The Tampa Bay Regional...

Tampa Bay Water’s Capital Improvements Program is a comprehensive 10-year plan and portfolio of previously approved and newly proposed projects. Updated annually, it serves as a roadmap for maintaining and improving our infrastructure to meet the region’s near- and far-term water demands while improving our financial stability. Currently, seven projects are in various stages of construction with a budgeted cost of $44 million. Desalination Facility Intake Connection Improvements, Phase 2 – the second of two projects that provide a new seawater intake for the desalination plant. Completion: May 2025 Eldridge-Wilde Wellfield Improvements – replaces wellhouses, pumps and motors at 24...

Every year Tampa Bay Water undergoes an audit of its financial statements by an independent auditor that reviews the utility’s internal controls and compliance with regulations, contracts and grant agreements. Independent auditor Maudlin & Jenkins, LLC, has issued an unmodified opinion — the highest form of assurance they can render — of Tampa Bay Water’s financial statements for the year ended Sept. 30, 2024. The audit, conducted in accordance with the auditing standards generally accepted in the U.S. and Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the U.S. They found no items of non-compliance, no material weaknesses in...

For Tampa Bay Water and other utilities across the state, planning for hurricane season begins long before the season arrives. From conducting an annual review of the utility’s hurricane plan and pre-storm checklists, to staging generators, hardening critical facilities and training response teams, Tampa Bay Water performs due diligence to avoid service interruptions. A reliable supply of safe, clean water is essential before, during and after a storm. Even with the extreme challenges of back-to-back storms with hurricanes Helene and Milton, Tampa Bay Water delivered an uninterrupted supply of water to its members and the 2.6 million residents they serve....

Every year, Tampa Bay Water updates its demand forecast over a 20-year horizon to ensure the next water supply project is developed in time to meet growing demands. This forecast is also used to prepare the agency’s annual budget, to determine allocations from each of our three water source types for the coming year, and to help us manage the future effects on the uniform water rate. For 2026, Tampa Bay Water anticipates delivering an average of 209.7 million gallons of water per day (mgd) to our member governments. This is the same projection we used for our current year’s...

At its February meeting, Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors approved a joint project agreement amendment for the South Hillsborough Pipeline to accommodate changes requested by Hillsborough County. Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners approved the restated joint project agreement at its Feb. 19 meeting. The County requested: A defined ending point on the Balm property for Segment B A Tampa Bay Water-owned, full-size tee connection along Segment A in Riverview near Boyette and McMullen roads for a future County Point of Connection Reconfigured yard piping in the Lithia Water Treatment Plant Additionally, the amended agreement updates projected cost estimates...