Tampa in Technicolor from Above

Tampa Water Department Temporarily Purchasing Water from Wholesale Water Provider


This information is 1 year 10 months old and may no longer be accurate.

The Tampa Water Department will be purchasing water from Tampa Bay Water (TBW) for several weeks beginning on Monday, July 18, 2022.
 
Why this purchase is necessary: 

  • To comply with the requirements of our water use permit. Tampa’s primary source of drinking water is the Hillsborough River Reservoir.  The Tampa Water Department is permitted to withdraw up to 82 million gallons of water per day (MGD) on average. Purchasing additional water from TBW is occasionally necessary for the City to stay in compliance with its water use permit while continuing to meet drinking water demands above 82 MGD.
  • To facilitate planned infrastructure upgrades at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility.  The Tampa Water Department needs to temporarily reduce water production to make way for planned upgrades. These changes are part of the $93M High Service Pump Station project that will expand treatment capacity, improve water quality, and increase operational flexibility and reliability.

Projected timeline for additional water purchases:  July 18 - August 12, 2022

What customers should expect: 

  • Some customers, particularly those in the New Tampa area, may notice taste and odor differences. This is due to a difference in the water source. Water purchased from TBW can be a blend of groundwater, surface water, or desalinated water.
  • The water remains safe to drink and use in their homes and businesses.
  • Tampa Water customers will also see additional charges on their utility bill, listed as “TBW Pass-Through.” These charges will likely appear in their September/October statements.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Sonia M. Quiñones
Supervisor - Communications and Conservation, Tampa Water Department
cell: (813) 447-0338 
email: sonia.quinones@tampa.gov