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New Plan Considered For Alafia

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BY YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2008

Updated: 02/16/2008 12:13 am

RIVERVIEW - In its endless pursuit of new sources of drinking water, Tampa Bay Water is considering withdrawing more from the Alafia River upstream, then replacing it with treated wastewater downstream.

The utility previously proposed using that process, called downstream augmentation, to get more water from the Hillsborough River. Those working to protect the river's health protested fiercely, but though the plan appeared to fizzle last year, it could still happen.

Both projects are on a short list of alternative water sources Tampa Bay Water is considering to satisfy future water needs and likely would not be implemented until 2017 or beyond, said Paula Dye, the utility's chief environmental planner.

"Downstream augmentation is one of the remaining water supply alternatives in this region, and we have to be thorough in looking at all the alternatives," Dye said. "They may or may not make it to the next list for more in-depth study."
Tampa Bay Water provides drinking water to Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, including Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey. It is under contract with local and county governments to provide as much water as they demand.

The utility is permitted to withdraw 10 percent of the Alafia's flow during rainy season. The water is diverted to the massive C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir in Lithia for future use.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is expected to approve minimum flows for the Alafia - or how much water can be taken from the river without harming the ecosystem - at a meeting Feb. 26. One study shows that 19 percent of the river's flow could be pulled without ill effects.

Bob Minthorn of Gibsonton, who has worked to protect the Alafia and has served on the Alafia River Basin Board, said he thinks the proposal to study downstream augmentation is just a way of posturing before asking the water district for another increase in withdrawals. The district must approve any changes in withdrawal methods or levels Tampa Bay Water proposes.

The ramifications of infusing reclaimed water into a natural water body are unknown, Minthorn said. "No one has done this on a large scale before," he said.

It may be safer to withdraw the water and do nothing else, he said. "We just don't know."

Critics think downstream augmentation would change the chemical footprint of the river, since reclaimed water contains traces of antibiotics, birth control pills, and other chemicals and medications ingested by humans.

Blue crabs and other aquatic creatures depend on that chemical symmetry, and how it differs upstream and downstream, to navigate, Minthorn said. "Blue crabs spawn upstream. How would they know how far upriver to go?" he said.

The Sierra Club also opposes the concept.

"There's too much uncertainty," said Tampa Bay Sierra Club chairwoman Bev Griffiths. "Certain things cannot be filtered out of wastewater. And I'm sure there are a lot of people who live along the river with boats and docks that would be concerned with increased withdrawals."

Dye said utility officials plan to meet again with a number of groups to discuss the projects on the short list. They held numerous public meetings in 2007 with the Sierra Club, Mosaic Co. and other groups to whittle the list from 300 to 15 based on each project's environmental stewardship, reliability and cost.

This one shouldn't have made the cut, said John Ovink of Tampa, a member of Friends of the River, which fought against downstream augmentation for the Hillsborough River.

"It was a bad idea for the Hillsborough and it's a bad idea for the Alafia," Ovink said.

Dye said that because the projects on the short list are being considered for future water use, research may become available that shows how downstream augmentation affects rivers' ecosystems.

"There is a lot of research being done right now by the reclaimed water organizations," Dye said.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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