Tampa Bay Regional Drought Index (June 5, 2008)

CLEARWATER (June 5, 2008)â€” Surface water availability and long-term regional drinking water storage conditions declined in the Tampa Bay region in May due to a return to below normal rainfall. Due to declining surface water flow over the past six weeks, Tampa Bay Water provided 474 million gallons to the City of Tampaâ€™s reservoir and direct purchase of regional system water began on May 30. Low surface water conditions and a short-term change in surface water use protocol required withdrawal of water from the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir.

Regional water facts for May:

Rainfall averaged between 1.5 to 2 inches below normal for the month.
Long-term rainfall deficits for the Hillsborough and Alafia River watersheds both increased over 2 inches to about 31 and 16 inches, respectively.
Flow in the Hillsborough River was about 46% below normal. A quick decline from previous month high flows.
Alafia River flow was about 67% below normal in April.
Regional water demand in May was about 288 million gallons per day (mgd), about 8 mgd less than 2007, but 36 mgd higher than April 2008 due to increased outdoor demand.
As of June 3, 2008, 5 billion gallons of water remain in the C.W. Bill Young Regional reservoir. About 1.7 billion gallons were withdrawn in May.

Seasonally dry conditions prevailed during the month of May as outdoor water use increased to over 314 mgd on May 13. These high demands will continue until onset of the summer rainy season.

Tampa Bay Water continues in a Level II Water Shortage, and continues to request the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey and counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco to reduce demand and increase enforcement of water restrictions. The entire 16-county Southwest Florida Water Management District area remains in a Level II Water Shortage.

For more information contact Dave Bracciano or Alison Adams at 727.796.2355.