your water cycle
Your drinking water comes from different sources, but it all starts with rain.
Click on the various links to learn more about your drinking water.
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Rainfall
Rain pours water onto Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties where it seeps into the underground aquifer, replenishing this underground reservoir, and fills creeks and rivers.
Rain pours water onto Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties where it seeps into the underground aquifer, replenishing this underground reservoir, and fills creeks and rivers.
Water Sources
A variety of water sources ensures a diverse, reliable water supply network: groundwater from the aquifer, seawater, river water and water stored in a reservoir.
A variety of water sources ensures a diverse, reliable water supply network: groundwater from the aquifer, seawater, river water and water stored in a reservoir.
Groundwater
The Floridan Aquifer is an underground layer of limestone that acts like a sponge. The millions of connected holes in the limestone store billions of gallons of water that seeps down through the soil. Water is withdrawn from the aquifer through wells.
Tampa Bay Water owns and operates 13 wellfields in the Hillsborough-Pasco-Pinellas county region.
The Floridan Aquifer is an underground layer of limestone that acts like a sponge. The millions of connected holes in the limestone store billions of gallons of water that seeps down through the soil. Water is withdrawn from the aquifer through wells.
Tampa Bay Water owns and operates 13 wellfields in the Hillsborough-Pasco-Pinellas county region.
Seawater
Seawater is the newest source to be added to Tampa Bay Water's mix. At the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant, seawater is forced through membranes to separate salty seawater from freshwater.
Seawater is the newest source to be added to Tampa Bay Water's mix. At the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant, seawater is forced through membranes to separate salty seawater from freshwater.
River Water
Water is skimmed from the Alafia River, Hillsborough River and Tampa Bypass Canal. The amount of water taken is controlled by permit and varies as the river flow varies. When river flows are higher, more water is withdrawn. When river flows are lower, less water is withdrawn.
Water is skimmed from the Alafia River, Hillsborough River and Tampa Bypass Canal. The amount of water taken is controlled by permit and varies as the river flow varies. When river flows are higher, more water is withdrawn. When river flows are lower, less water is withdrawn.
Reservoir
The regional reservoir is like a giant bath tub where extra river water is saved. Water is stored in the reservoir during wet times and taken out to be used during dry times.
The regional reservoir is like a giant bath tub where extra river water is saved. Water is stored in the reservoir during wet times and taken out to be used during dry times.
Treatment
Water from the rivers, Tampa Bypass Canal and regional reservoir is pumped to a water treatment plant where it is filtered and disinfected, then blended with the desalinated seawater and groundwater.
Water from the rivers, Tampa Bypass Canal and regional reservoir is pumped to a water treatment plant where it is filtered and disinfected, then blended with the desalinated seawater and groundwater.
Delivery
Treated, blended water is pumped to local utilities for any elective treatment, such as softening or fluoridation.
Treated, blended water is pumped to local utilities for any elective treatment, such as softening or fluoridation.
At Your House
High-quality drinking water is delivered to your house, available at your fingertips for any number of uses. Water provided by Tampa Bay Water meets or surpasses all USEPA Safe Drinking Water requirements.
High-quality drinking water is delivered to your house, available at your fingertips for any number of uses. Water provided by Tampa Bay Water meets or surpasses all USEPA Safe Drinking Water requirements.
From Your Drain
Water that goes down your drain may go to a reclaimed water facility where it is cleaned for lawn watering or disposal.
Water that goes down your drain may go to a reclaimed water facility where it is cleaned for lawn watering or disposal.
Watering a Lawn
Some of the reclaimed water used for sprinkling your lawn or landscape will eventually evaporate and return to a thundercloud and the water cycle will begin again.
Some of the reclaimed water used for sprinkling your lawn or landscape will eventually evaporate and return to a thundercloud and the water cycle will begin again.