Welcome to the Tampa Bay Water newsroom where you'll find news stories, story ideas, photos, video, and more. If you are a reporter, you may request interviews through our public communications department.
Tampa Bay Water provides wholesale water to the public utility systems of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa.
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Michelle Stom, MPA, APRChief of Staff/Chief Strategy OfficerO: (727) 791-2305 | M: (727) 418-4652
Brandon Moore, APRPublic Communications ManagerO: (727) 791-2304 | M: (727) 470-0702
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News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Brandon Moorebmoore@tampabaywater.org(727) 791-2304 | (727) 470-0702 CLEARWATER, Fla. (April 10, 2024) – Today, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which regulates public drinking water, issued its...
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News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Brandon Moorebmoore@tampabaywater.org(727) 791-2304 | (727) 470-0702 CLEARWATER, Fla. (April 4, 2024) – Rainfall has been above average for the last two months and the region is...
News Release For Immediate Release Contact: RaeChelle DavisRDavis@CatalystCommunicationsGroup.com(619) 438-4318 ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 22, 2024) - In a poignant tribute to World Water Day, Florida Humanities proudly presented an exclusive...
News Release For Immediate Release Contact: Brandon Moorebmoore@tampabaywater.org(727) 791-2304 | (727) 470-0702 CLEARWATER, Fla. (March 18, 2024)- Tampa Bay Water continues to encourage water conservation and reminds residents that small actions can...
April 10, 2024
The Biden Administration is cracking down on utility providers to eliminate cancer-causing, "forever chemicals" detected in tap water.
Officials with Tampa Bay Water and the city of Tampa say they have been preparing for new drinking water standards announced Wednesday by the federal government.
April 9, 2024
Local weather enthusiasts have an opportunity to help the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Tampa Bay office and other agencies keep track of local rainfall by joining the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS).
April 8, 2024
Volunteers picked up nearly 20 tons of trash throughout the county March 2 during the 2024 Great American Cleanup.
April 5, 2024
Daryl Gibson is stocked up with rain gauges, water sprinklers and a shower timer.
April 3, 2024
Spring months are the driest of the year, so it’s important to conserve water until the summer rain storms return.
Pasco County residents came together for a record-breaking year in the 2024 Great American Cleanup, exceeding all previous efforts.
April 1, 2024
Brandon Moore, with Tampa Bay Water, discussed a water shortage in the Bay Area, explained why that is, and gave some tips for conserving water.
March 18, 2024
Starting Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency is urging everyone to save water as a part of its "Fix-a-Leak Week."
The EPA says on average, households can leak as much as 10,000 gallons a year just through leaky faucets.
A years-long drought, coupled with a rapidly increasing population, is stretching water supplies across the region.
March 14, 2024
Since December 2023, lawn watering has been restricted to once a week to conserve water amid drought conditions.
A call for conservation from Tampa Bay Water continues as we head into the spring dry season. Residents are being asked to cut water usage by 5% using multiple tactics.
March 12, 2024
Private wells use the water supply of an aquifer, which can run low during a dry season.
For lawn-loving Tampa Bay residents dutifully watering only once a week, here’s news:
March 8, 2024
Local skies have been full of clouds this winter, but the amount of rain produced so far is leaving the Tampa Bay area in drought conditions that have officials calling for continued conservation efforts from the community.
February 28, 2024
If your grass is more on the brown side, you're not alone, and it could get a little worse.
February 27, 2024
Residents in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties may only water their lawns one day a week.
The 1-day-per-week watering restrictions for have been extended in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties: SWFL Water Management District.
Residents in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough will continue to be limited to watering one day per week.
February 22, 2024
Sen. Jay Collins, who represents the Tampa-based Senate District 14, has filed more than 60 appropriations requests this Legislative Session.
February 20, 2024
Keep Pasco Beautiful is again partnering with Pasco County to recruit volunteers for the annual Great American Cleanup.
February 13, 2024
Pasco County is known for its wide-open spaces and beautiful waterways that offer a great quality of life. Keeping our county clean is a top priority for Keep Pasco Beautiful.
Tampa Bay Water is asking residents to continue water-thrifty habits into March, April and May, which are the driest months of the year in Tampa Bay.
The St. Petersburg Science Festival and MarineQuest, annual events to inspire creativity, engage curiosity, and deepen knowledge of science and the arts, drew an estimated 13,000 attendees the 2024 edition Feb. 9 and 10.
February 7, 2024
Bob McConnell’s 23-year career at Tampa Bay Water left an indelible mark on the Tampa Bay region.
The St. Petersburg Science Festival and MarineQuest returned with more hands-on activities than ever before, including a mobile aquarium, seagrass maze and a shark show utilizing virtual reality.
January 24, 2024
After years of doom and gloom regarding the town’s drinking water situation, there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel for Belleair residents and users of its utilities.
January 16, 2024
The Pasco County Commission has adopted a resolution declaring Jan. 19 as Arbor Day in Pasco County.
December 10, 2023
As the Tampa community implements stricter irrigation rules due to the regional water shortage, Mayor Jane Castor honored two Tampa homeowners for their water-efficient landscape.
December 5, 2023
Residents may hear 3-5 short blasts.
December 1, 2023
Bemetra Simmons, CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership, which created the highly successful Tampa Bay Water, shared that 20% of all residents in our area cross county lines daily.
On Nov. 14, a water shortage was declared in multiple Tampa Bay counties, causing certain restrictions to go into place for residents.
November 30, 2023
Residents in three Tampa Bay area counties will be limited to watering their lawns once per week starting Friday.
November 21, 2023
With rainfall levels far below what's typical this time of year, steps are being made to conserve water across the bay.
Lower-than-normal rainfall has led the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board to declare a Modified Phase 1 Water Shortage.
November 15, 2023
Residents in Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties will be limited to irrigating one day a week beginning in December.
Hillsborough County Water Resources is asking residents and property owners to be mindful of their lawn watering days and hours, as well as their water usage, especially outdoors.
Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties will be limited to once-per-week lawn watering beginning Dec. 1.
Due to this year’s drought, the Southwest Florida Management Water District (SWFWMD) issued a Modified Phase 1 Water Shortage for Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties.
Some counties, cities in the Tampa Bay area have restrictions as the area faces a water shortage, SWFMD said.
November 14, 2023
The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board has declared a Modified Phase I Water Shortage due to ongoing dry conditions throughout the region and increasing water supply concerns.
Starting Dec. 1, people in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties will only be able to water their lawns once a week.
El Distrito de Gestión del Agua del Suroeste de Florida declaró una escasez de agua el martes, lo que afecta a todos los condados del área de la Bahía de Tampa y partes del suroeste de Florida.
People living in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties will only be allowed to water their lawns once a week starting next month.
Residents of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas Counties can only water their lawns once a week beginning December 1.
A water shortage was declared in multiple Tampa Bay counties on Tuesday, causing certain restrictions to go into place for residents.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) met in Tampa on Tuesday and put into effect a "Modified Phase I Water Shortage" amid recent drought conditions.
November 13, 2023
As the drought wears on in the Bay Area, regional water officials are considering usage cutbacks on irrigation systems.
As the Tampa Bay area deals with drought conditions, leaders are considering implementing water restrictions.
The Tampa area has not had a drop of rain this month, but an area of low pressure moving toward Florida this week could change that.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District set restrictions for lawn watering three years ago and could do it again.
A potential upcoming vote could impact water usage in the Tampa Bay region as some local areas still face severe and extreme drought.
Leaders with Tampa Bay Water are talking about new restrictions Monday. Portions of the area are dealing with the worst drought conditions in decades.
November 9, 2023
In the wake of the region’s driest rainy season in more than two decades, Southwest Florida water managers will vote next week on whether outdoor irrigation should be cut to one day per week in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
November 8, 2023
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored Tampa Bay Water Wise, the Tampa Bay region’s water conservation rebate program, with a 2023 WaterSense® Excellence Award.
October 24, 2023
Tampa Bay residents may have found themselves missing the summer showers this year.
The Tampa Bay area’s rainy season was one of the driest in more than a decade.
It may not seem like it to residents who are still mucking out wet debris, but the Tampa Bay area has experienced less rainfall than usual for this time of year.
October 16, 2023
Tampa Bay Water is asking the community to conserve resources, as the Tampa Bay region is now in a Stage 1 water shortage.
October 11, 2023
The U.S. EPA has presented 47 awards to WaterSense partners for their support of WaterSense and water efficiency at the WaterSmart Innovations conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.
El proveedor mayorista de agua Tampa Bay Water alertó a la comunidad sobre el estado de escasez etapa 1 en el que se encuentra la región.
A homebuilder whiffed on its mulligan to turn a golf driving range into a townhome neighborhood in Riverview.
October 5, 2023
This time of year, we get around 60% of our yearly rainfall in just a few months. Except this year, many of us haven't.
Walk through the PFAS drinking water testing process and learn what the first round of results mean.
October 4, 2023
Dry weather has triggered a warning from the region’s supplier of drinking water.
October 3, 2023
We take a look at what this means, how it will be resolved, and what residents can do to reduce water consumption.
Tampa Bay Water announced a Stage 1 water shortage Monday, after a continuously dry season.
October 2, 2023
Tampa Bay is 8.3 inches short of normal rainfall totals so far this year. After a drier than normal rainy season, leaders are now urging conservation efforts.
September 22, 2023
As the Tampa Bay region endures drought conditions and record-breaking temperatures this summer, we are fortunate that we are not facing water shortages like a half-dozen western states coping with extreme heat and little rain.
September 20, 2023
According to the city, Tampa residents and businesses are using too much water.
After an unusually dry rainy season and a significant rise in water usage, the City of Tampa Water Department is urging residents and businesses to use water wisely.
The city of Tampa announced Wednesday it must buy water for the second time this year to meet demand.
Most of Tampa and the surrounding area are still under a moderate drought, according to the National Weather Service. This is due, in part, to a drier-than-normal rainy season.
September 15, 2023
The city’s water department started buying water from the regional water authority, called Tampa Bay Water, because consumption is up and there’s been a lack of rain, according to the Tampa Water Department.
September 13, 2023
The Belleair Town Commission convened Sept. 5 for the first of two public hearings scheduled to adopt the proposed tentative budget for fiscal year 2023-2024.
September 8, 2023
For the second time this year, the Tampa Water Department said it has to buy water from another agency to keep up with customer demand.
August 21, 2023
Tampa Bay’s regional water utility is looking in old places for new drinking water.
August 9, 2023
Tampa Bay Water is repurposing old toilets into a water-filtering oyster sanctuary, helping to offset the waste impacts from the utility’s growing rebate program.
July 27, 2023
Every summer, Tampa Bay residents have come to expect daily downpours as they rush to their vehicles after work. But an especially dry start to 2023 hasn’t yet given way to the typical pattern of summertime storms.
A combination of federal protections, local ordinances and grassroots efforts helped clean Tampa Bay’s waterways by the 1990s.
July 23, 2023
First, here are three eye-catching stories you may have missed from the TBBJ newsroom this past week.
July 20, 2023
The Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo is an oasis with beautiful plants, trees, birds and butterflies. It’s now also home to a project that takes the Gardens’ inspiration and seamlessly blends in education.
It’s not every day that tourist attractions and public utilities team up, but in Largo, a beautiful partnership blossoms.
July 19, 2023
There's signs at the Florida Botanical Gardens Elevated Wetland Walkway with important messages on protecting and conserving water.
Officials with Tampa Bay Water and the Florida Botanical Gardens Foundation unveiled a new collaborative project at the Ulmerton Road facility July 12.
July 13, 2023
New signs were installed Wednesday at the Florida Botanical Gardens to help educate visitors about the importance of protecting and conserving drinking water sources.
The realities of servicing a sprawling Hillsborough County with basic infrastructure could begin to further eat into residents' pocketbooks.
July 12, 2023
Vibrant new signs will greet visitors to the Florida Botanical Gardens Elevated Walkway in Largo. These colorful markers offer visitors an immersive learning encounter amid the Gardens’ splendor.
July 11, 2023
July 8, 2023
Creative Pinellas, Florida Botanical Gardens and Heritage Village will continue the Third Saturdays at Pinewood on Saturday, July 15.
July 6, 2023
The Tampa Bay Watch environmental organization is giving new life to oyster shells tossed in the trash at local restaurants to create more habitats and filtration in Tampa Bay.
June 26, 2023
The city of Zephyrhills is about to issue a hold on new developments for the next year as it reaches the maximum amount it's allowed to withdraw from the aquifer. The head of the local water district says it's more about the growth than not having enough water.
June 22, 2023
Traffic congestion has become so bad southeast of Tampa that elected officials are ready for solutions no matter the cost — as long as the county doesn't pay for it.
June 15, 2023
Old toilets are now being used to help clean the water in Tampa Bay! It's a unique pilot program that's brought two local agencies together with the same goal of protecting the environment.
June 14, 2023
Tampa Bay Water – the wholesale drinking water supplier to Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, as well as the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa – is celebrating 25 years of innovation and regional cooperation to keep water flowing to the region.
June 12, 2023
Can water have a birthday? Sure! Tampa Bay Water is celebrating their 25th year of meeting the every-growing demand for water, and that's What's Good in Tampa Bay with Ann Kelly and General Manager Chuck Carden.
June 9, 2023
By the time Tampa Bay Water found its footing in 1998, governments across the region had wasted years fighting — losing millions of dollars in lawsuits in the process.
June 8, 2023
Drinking water for residents in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties is made up of aquifer, river and Gulf waters. And it goes through a lot before reaching your faucet.
June 7, 2023
Residents across the greater Tampa Bay region can enjoy thousands of acres of wetlands and lakes that have slowly rebounded over the past couple decades since Tampa Bay Water stopped the over-pumping of groundwater and ended "the water wars."
May 31, 2023
Desalination, especially as it becomes more efficient, is one possible answer to drinking water problems across the world.
May 26, 2023
The city proposal to use wastewater to augment drinking water supplies will end.
May 18, 2023
If you have an old leaky toilet and plan to replace it, don't throw it away! Rebates through Tampa Bay Water are available, and you can help protect the environment.
May 16, 2023
Weeks from the traditional start of the summer rainy season, Tampa Bay and most of Florida are experiencing the most severe drought conditions in more than a decade.
May 12, 2023
Many on Friday praised the work of Tampa Bay Water, which emerged from the region’s water wars in the 1990s to control its water supply, as an example of regionalism at its best.
May 11, 2023
Unveiling The Tampa Bay Area Tap Water Mystery. Tap water is a daily essential for most of us, but have you ever wondered why the taste can vary across different regions?
It’s often an afterthought. You turn on the faucet and water comes out, a seemingly endless supply of it. Clean and ready for showering, drinking or cooking.
As one of the most popular tourist destinations, Tampa Bay has an abundance of hotels and other properties. As those properties are updated over time, replaceable items like old toilets are sent to landfills. Tampa Bay Watch and Tampa Bay Water are exploring ways to find more sustainable solutions for the toilets.
May 8, 2023
Due to a shortage of rainfall in the first four months of the year, Hillsborough County is reminding residents to be mindful of how much water they’re using.
If you’ve ever wondered why your tap water tastes different than your friend’s across the bay, we have the answer. The water comes from the same sources, but the cities and counties around Tampa Bay have different treatment processes and combinations of source water.
May 1, 2023
The increase in demand for water is driven by growth in Southeastern Hillsborough County, which is seeing more residents move into new homes every day. To help meet that growing need, Tampa Bay Water is implementing a plan to increase the amount of water flowing to that part of the utility’s service area.
April 24, 2023
Two local organizations have come together for a unique recycling opportunity using toilet bowls. They say the effort will ultimately help improve the quality of Tampa Bay.
The city of Tampa said Tampa Bay Water supplies wholesale drinking water to Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
April 23, 2023
April 20, 2023
The Hillsborough River Reservoir is dwindling by the day because of a lack of rainfall in our area. To address this growing concern, the Tampa Water Department purchased water from Tampa Bay Water to make up for its shortfalls.
Volunteers with Tampa Bay Watch use hammers and a marine-friendly concrete mix to create oyster reef balls to filter the water in the bay. Pieces of toilets are included.
The Tampa Water Department says it’s taking measures to address what it calls a seasonal drought affecting the city.
April 19, 2023
The department said it is purchasing water from Tampa Bay Water starting Thursday. The company supplies wholesale drinking water to Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, as well as New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa.
April 18, 2023
It's back to the drawing board after the first two pitches to convert Tampa's wastewater into clean water for drinking or dispersing into the Hillsborough River went down the drain.
April 17, 2023
Volunteers recently gathered at Lowry Park to do their part to clean up the Hillsborough River.
The city of Tampa has a new idea for disposing of its treated wastewater — send it to the region’s drinking water supplier, Tampa Bay Water.
April 14, 2023
Tampa Bay Water made an $8,000 grant earmarked to educate Hispanic communities in Tampa Bay about the importance of the water supply through outings and community cleanups delivered in their cultural representation.
April 8, 2023
On Saturday, April 8, Tampa Bay Kayak Anglers will hold a Hispanics for Our Environment: Hillsborough River Cleanup. Volunteers will gather at Lowry Park, 1204 W. Flora St., in Tampa from 8 to 11 a.m.
April 5, 2023
A new water source is likely coming to South Hillsborough County.
March 29, 2023
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — People in Hillsborough County will soon have a new freshwater source, and it will have a big impact on people in the area.
March 28, 2023
Politicians and TIP leaders gathered on March 24, in Pasco County.
March 24, 2023
TAMPA BAY, Fla. (Tampa Bay Now News) - In recognition of World Water Day, experts in Florida say the state is seeing its drinking water supply deplete at an alarming rate and they're working to address it before it's too late.
March 22, 2023
The city's water department recently doubled its development services team to accommodate the growing demand.
The plan will provide an additional 2.3 million gallons of water daily to the fast-growing region.
March 21, 2023
TAMPA, Fla. - Bay Area gardeners who use native plants to help the environment are being rewarded through a Hillsborough County program.
March 17, 2023
Tampa City Council candidate and former state legislator Janet Cruz denies that she has changed her position on Tampa’s plans to reuse wastewater, despite having sponsored a bill to expedite a similar plan in 2018.
March 14, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — When is the last time you thought about what's in the water coming out of your faucet?
Right now, the EPA is proposing some big changes on what should be allowed in terms of "forever chemicals," or PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), in our drinking water. On Tuesday, EPA leaders announced a proposal that would implement the first national standard to limit PFAS chemicals in drinking water.
March 7, 2023
Hillsborough County Extension Service is accepting applications for the Tampa Bay Community Water Wise Awards, which aim to promote appropriate gardening habits and recognize community members who are committed to creating sustainable landscapes.
Four Tampa City Council races will head to a runoff following Tuesday’s election, with two other candidates clinching their spots on the dais for the next four years.
TAMPA — The race for the West Tampa-based District 6 City Council seat appears headed to a runoff, as Charlie Miranda led the crowded field by a wide margin Tuesday night but not with a majority of the vote.
March 6, 2023
Tampa Electric is pointing the finger at one of its customers for not disclosing to the utility it had a private wastewater pump station on its account before the utility cut off power over an unpaid bill — resulting in a weeklong January spill that dumped an estimated 630,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Hillsborough River.
March 3, 2023
TAMPA, Fla. — Hundreds of thousands of gallons of raw sewage — enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, was spilled into the Hillsborough River, according to state environmental reports.
March 2, 2023
Charlie Miranda, who must leave his citywide District 2 seat due to term limits, is making a bid for the open District 6 seat against four candidates making their first campaigns for elected office.
Feb 28, 2023
The final segment of the Ridge Road, which is scheduled to reach U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes, could turn into just another stop along the road.
Feb 27, 2023
Pasco leaders looking for more east-west travel options in their growing county have given transportation planners the green light to study another extension of Ridge Road — this one through the 8,506-acre Cypress Creek Preserve.
Feb 9, 2023
Few restoration initiatives have made this much difference in just 35 years: 384 projects to improve water quality, creating 15,596 acres of habitat that drains 230,725 acres of watershed.
Jan 24, 2023
A 26-mile water main will extend between the Tampa Bay Waterregional facilities site north of State Road 60 all the way to a newfacility near Balm, with a pit stop at a treatment plant in Lithia.
January 23, 2023
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — On Monday, The Tampa Bay Water Board will consider approving Segment B, the southern segment, for the new South Hillsborough Pipeline.
Tampa Bay Water has an interesting history and many stories that make us who we are. Book someone from Tampa Bay Water’s Speakers Bureau to share our stories and history with you and your organization.
Tampa Bay Water’s Speakers Bureau is available to schools, universities, community organizations and civic groups to share knowledge and expertise on topics related to water, treatment, environmental stewardship, source water protection, conservation and more.
The Tampa Bay Water Wise regional rebate program is saving 430,759 gallons of water per day. The premise is simple: you can save money by saving water. The regional water...
The Tampa Bay area has received normal rainfall since November, which has helped lessen the drought conditions in our coastal areas and allowed Tampa Bay Water to store additional water...
Tampa Bay Water continues to invest in infrastructure to ensure that more than 2.6 million people in the Tampa Bay region have high-quality drinking water at the turn of the...
Cooler temperatures, recent rains, watering restrictions and increased permitted withdrawals from the Alafia River have allowed Tampa Bay Water to add water to the regional reservoir. That’s good news. However,...
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....
