Tampa Bay Water’s Long-term Master Water Plan is a 20-year framework for meeting the region’s future drinking water needs. It is updated every five years. Work is underway for three projects approved by the board for additional study: expanding the Surface Water Treatment Plant, expanding the Desalination Plant, and assessing a new wellfield via aquifer recharge credits.
The Surface Water Treatment Plant expansion is evaluating the feasibility of increasing Tampa Bay Water’s annual yield of surface water by 10-12.5 million gallons per day (mgd). It also involves evaluating an alternative location, including benefits and risks, for a new surface water treatment plant near the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir. So far, forecast modeling and on-site condition assessments have been completed.
The Desalination Plant expansion study is evaluating the feasibility of increasing Tampa Bay Water’s available desalinated seawater supply 10-12.5 mgd. Currently, this facility can supply up to 25 mgd of drinking water to the region. So far, pilot testing and plant condition assessments have been completed.
The South Hillsborough Wellfield study (via SHARP credits) is evaluating the feasibility of increasing Tampa Bay Water’s available groundwater by 7.5 mgd by developing a new wellfield and associated collection mains and water treatment facilities using credits from the injection of reclaimed water by Hillsborough County. We are in the process of purchasing a test well site and will test the well pump this fall. The team is also researching reclaimed water pricing, building upon the work Tampa Bay Water has done to date on reclaimed water pricing.
The Surface Water Treatment Plant expansion study is scheduled to be completed by February 2021 while the studies for the desalination plant and the South Hillsborough wellfield credits are scheduled to be completed by December 2021.
