The Southwest Florida Water Management District and City of Tarpon Springs are working together on an alternative water supply project that will reduce demand on the Tampa Bay Water regional system by providing up to 5 million gallons of water per day (mgd) by treating brackish groundwater.
The District and city signed an agreement for the project that includes the design, permitting and construction of a brackish water wellfield and treatment facilities.
The city currently purchases between 3 and 5 mgd from Pinellas County Utilities, which is supplied by Tampa Bay Water. The alternative water supply developed by this project will replace water currently purchased from Pinellas County.
Construction is expected to begin this August and be complete by February 2011.
This project is being cooperatively funded by Tarpon Springs and the District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board over several years. The project is expected to cost approximately $45 million. District funding for fiscal year 2009 is $8 million. Future funding is contingent upon Basin Board approval.