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Bay area's water use well below national average

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 5, 2009

Updated: 05/05/2009 11:05 am

TAMPA - Even before the current drought and toughest water restrictions in the region's history, the Bay area was using 40 percent less water per person than the rest of the country.

Since the new watering rules took effect in April, that amount could approach 50 percent less, said David Moore, executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

Speaking this morning at a forum of climate experts, utility managers and water suppliers, Moore said Bay-area residents used an average of 109 gallons a day in 2005.

The average nationwide was 175 gallons a day.

Moore attributed the region's lower water use to restrictions and conservation.

Conservation, he said, is the least expensive, most reliable and most readily available way to increase the region's water supplies. More conservation will be necessary given the lack of rainfall.

Alison Adams, scientist with Tampa Bay Water, said the Hillsborough and Alafia rivers are setting daily records for low flow. The flow is lower than at the height of the last severe drought from 1998 through 2001.

Under normal conditions, the rivers, along with the Tampa Bypass Canal, provide nearly 60 percent of the drinking water for Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, and the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey.

Over the past three years, rainfall in the Hillsborough River basin is about 47 inches below normal and 25 inches below normal for the Alafia River basin.

Though the new water restrictions have been in place for only a month, Moore said water use fell by possibly 20 percent compared to the same period last year.

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

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