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Water Regulators Reject Tougher Rules For Tampa Bay Area

Tribune file photo by KATHY MOORE

Among other things, the proposed rules would have further limited watering of lawns and new landscaping.

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - Water regulators today decided to give current restrictions a chance before tightening rules further.

Tampa Bay Water, the wholesale water supplier to utilities in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, wanted the Southwest Florida Water Management District to impose more limits on top of rules that already are the state's most restrictive.

But the district, known as Swiftmud, said more water could be saved through existing rules, especially if local utilities step up enforcement.

Tampa Bay Water's request was an attempt to stave off a steep increase in pumping at wellfields in Pasco and northern Hillsborough as other sources are depleted. The restrictions sought have never been imposed in the region and were developed after the last drought that lasted from 1998 through 2001.

Among other things, the proposed rules would have further limited watering of lawns and new landscaping, as well as hose watering and micro-irrigation of landscaping. They also would have prohibited car washing at home and charity car washes.

Swiftmud's governing board said it wants local utilities to boost conservation, such as considering a drought surcharge for households using large amounts of water and reducing water pressure if possible.

Current measures aimed at a 10 percent reduction in water use have achieved only a 2 percent cut.

Since 2006, rainfall in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough is more than two feet below normal, or roughly six months' worth of rain.

On a scale of 1 to 100, the flow in the Hillsborough River, Tampa's main source for drinking water, is a 2. The river can only provide about half the water Tampa needs each day, meaning the city must lean on its reservoir, which already is diminished to a level usually seen in May, and buy water from Tampa Bay Water.

River flow is expected to drop as the dry season peaks in April and May.

A 15-billion gallon reservoir Tampa Bay Water normally relies on to provide about a quarter of the region's supply will probably run dry next month.

The reservoir normally lasts until summer rains begin in mid-June, but cracks forced the utility to only partly fill it, hamstringing its ability to last through the dry season.

Added to the woes, summer rains were stingy and flows in the Hillsborough and Alafia rivers dwindled earlier than usual, forcing Tampa Bay Water to tap the reservoir months early.

Swiftmud's board will consider further conservation measures when it meets in March.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731 or njohnson@tampatrib.com.

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