Raw water is obtained from the Hillsborough River Reservoir. During periods when Hillsborough River flows are relatively low, the reservoir may be augmented with water pumped from the Tampa Bypass Canal or Sulphur Springs. All surface water is treated at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility. Its treatment capacity, ranging between 60 and 102 million gallons per day (mgd), depends on the quality of the raw water. The Morris Bridge Water Treatment Plant was completed in 1979 to provide additional pumping capacity during the seasonal dry periods and is now used as a re-pump station to meet daily peak demands when needed.

The City of Tampa purchases water from Tampa Bay Water, a regional water utility that sells water to local water providers, during times when demand is high and our own resources can no longer meet this demand. Water purchased from Tampa Bay Water is pumped from the Morris Bridge pumping station, which serves the northern section of the Tampa Water Department's distribution area.

Treated water is pumped through a transmission and distribution system consisting of over 2,230 miles of pipe ranging in size from 2-inch to 54-inch diameter. Two re-pump stations, ground storage tanks and two elevated storage tanks are located in the distribution system. The Water Department currently serves a population of approximately 560,000.

Service Area Map with Section, Township and Range Grid

Statistics (as of FY 2010)

Customers:

Production:

Distribution and Consumer Services: