Tampa Bay reservoir rises, water restrictions remain

Tampa Bay’s regional reservoir continues to recover following much-needed rainfall over the past week, adding 830 million gallons of water since Oct. 8. However, residents hoping for an early reprieve from water restrictions will have to wait.

According to Tampa Bay Water, the regional wholesale drinking water utility, the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir held 11.22 billion gallons as of Oct. 12, up from 10.39 billion gallons on Oct. 8, when the agency last apprised Pinellas County Commissioners of the matter.

The increase represents about an 8% gain in stored water over four days, offering a welcome boost to the region’s water supply as the dry season approaches.

The reservoir has recorded steady daily gains, rising to 10.6 billion gallons Oct. 9, 10.74 billion gallons Oct. 10 and 11.01 billion gallons Oct. 11, respectively, before reaching its latest reported level.

The recent rainfall has also improved conditions in the region’s rivers, allowing Tampa Bay Water to draw more heavily on surface water sources.

“The Hillsborough and Alafia rivers have continued to increase in flow,” said Warren Hogg, Tampa Bay Water’s chief science officer. “As a result, we’ve been able to harvest 200 million gallons a day, and supply our surface water treatment plant with 60 million gallons a day of river water.”

However, the improving conditions do not mean the region’s water shortage is over.

Hogg said Tampa Bay Water continues to monitor two key metrics before water shortage measures can be eased: the region’s cumulative rainfall deficit and the median flow of the Hillsborough River.

The region remains approximately 10 inches below normal rainfall levels over the past 12 months, according to Hogg. Meanwhile, the Hillsborough River’s median flow has averaged approximately 28 million gallons per day below its expected level over the past year.

Both metrics must improve before officials can consider relaxing water shortage measures.

Current restrictions include limiting residential lawn watering to once per week; Tampa Bay Water does not regulate usage restrictions – the Southwest Florida Water Management District does that.

While a series of rainy days can quickly replenish the reservoir and increase river flows, overcoming a prolonged drought requires sustained improvement across the region’s water sources.

Despite running a deficit and operating under usage restrictions, Hogg emphasized that we are still insulted from catastrophe.

“We have a very resilient system,” Hogg said. “Our reservoirs are a savings account. We want the most savings. But we will still be in a good position.”