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Tampa Bay Water To Limit Reservoir's Level, Check Cracks

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Water officials plan to limit water storage this year in the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir so engineers can better investigate cracks in the wall.

In a Tuesday memo to the water supplier's board of directors, Tampa Bay Water General Manager Gerald Seeber said the level will be limited to about half the 15 billion gallon capacity.

"With a lower level," Seeber wrote to directors, "the agency can continue the investigation into the cause of unexpected cracking and work toward the development of a fix; protect the areas of concern in the interior lining from potential wave erosion and additional costly damage as we enter the height of the hurricane season; and position ourselves to lower the water level in the reservoir next spring to an elevation that will facilitate recommended remedies to the cracking problem."

Seeber said the reservoir, which developed cracks in the interior walls more than a year ago, is safe. He said Tampa Bay Water started filling it July 18 and now has 6 billion gallons in the reservoir.

Though the lower level allows engineers to investigate cracks now below the waterline, the move raises questions about the utility's ability to store enough water during the current rainy season for use during the dry fall and winter months, a tactic intended to limit withdrawals from ground and surface waters.

On July 26, the Southwest Florida Water Management District issued a water shortage emergency order allowing Tampa Bay Water to withdraw additional water from the Alafia River. The order allows the water supplier to take up to 19 percent of the Alafia's flow.

"I don't have a question right now about the safety of the reservoir, but there are going to be questions about if we have enough water for drought if the reservoir is drawn down next year," said Hillsborough County Commissioner Al Higginbotham, a member of the Tampa Bay Water board.

In November, divers discovered that the soil-concrete interior walls are one-half foot or more thinner at the base than called for in the engineering specifications. Engineers have not determined what caused the cracks.

The reservoir is in southeast Hillsborough County.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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