TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Region's Thirst Sends Supply Line Under

ADVERTISEMENT

By NEIL JOHNSON

njohnson@tampatrib.com

Published: March 18, 2009

TAMPA - With rivers gurgling to a trickle and the desalination plant limping because of mechanical problems, water suppliers are turning up the pumps to tap groundwater at a rate not seen since 2002.

Last week, the region's water supplier shut down the plant that treats river water. That happened as its massive reservoir in southern Hillsborough County went dry, unable to provide another drop to the thirsty Tampa Bay area.

On Monday, Tampa Bay Water sent 213 million gallons of water to residents in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. Of that, about 198 million gallons came from the aquifer. The balance came from the utility's desalination plant.

By May, wells could be asked to provide about 210 million gallons a day with the bulk coming from 11 wellfields in northern Hillsborough and southern Pasco. Wellfields scattered over central and southern Hillsborough will also add to the supply.

That is if the desalination plant in Apollo Beach can get back to its capacity of 25 million gallons a day, said Alison Adams, senior manager with Tampa Bay Water, which provides water for Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, St. Petersburg, Tampa and New Port Richey.

Mechanical problems, including a blown transformer, have hamstrung the plant, cutting daily production to about 15 million gallons with repairs expected to take until at least mid-April.

On Friday, a leak in the pipe carrying salt water to the plant forced it to shut down until Saturday afternoon.

Until mid-April, the best the utility can expect is 16 million to 19 million gallons a day from the plant.

Wellfields will have to carry the load.

The last time Tampa Bay Water leaned so heavily on the wells was in 2002. That year, it started using rivers as a water source, siphoning flow from the Hillsborough and Alafia and the bypass canal, and relieving pumping pressure.

From 2003 through 2005, surface water was plentiful thanks to normal summer rains and the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005.

Experts at the Southwest Florida Water Management District believe the current drought started in summer 2006 when rainfall dwindled, especially over inland parts of Hillsborough and Pasco that feed the two rivers.

Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at (813) 259-7731.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT