Tampa Bay Water considering new projects to bring new water to region

Projections show Tampa Bay Water will need to supply an additional 10 million gallons per day (mgd) of water by 2028 to meet increased demand from population growth.

Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors is scheduled to select the next configuration of water supply projects to meet this need in December 2022. Among consideration are expanding surface water treatment capacity, expanding the desalination facility and a new South Hillsborough Wellfield via aquifer recharge credits.

Tampa Bay Water held a virtual public meeting May 20 to discuss maximizing surface water treatment capabilities by either expanding the existing regional surface water treatment plant or building a new surface water treatment plant on the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir property. Nearly 40 people attended to learn about these options and provided feedback. A follow-up meeting will be held on Aug. 24.

One of the three projects under consideration to bring new water to the region involves building a new groundwater wellfield in southern Hillsborough County using credits through the County’s South Hillsborough Aquifer Recharge Project (SHARP). If selected, this project could produce about 7.5 mgd of new water.