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Tampa Bay Regional Water Supply and Drought Index (April 6, 2009)

CLEARWATER (April 6, 2009) - Surface water availability continues to decline as storage in the regional reservoir has been depleted. Rainfall totals across the Tampa Bay region in March, were about 70% below normal for the month.

As the spring dry season continues, the region remains under Critical Water Shortage conditions. Regional surface water supplies were exhausted by mid-March and the regional surface water treatment plant was taken out of service. Regional water facts for March:

  • The region is at the start of the spring season when rainfall totals are normally low and temperatures begin to warm. The trend of individual monthly rainfall deficits continued throughout the region, averaging about 75% or 0.8 inches below the normal of 3.28 inches. Rainfall deficits ranged from 1.5 inches to 3.32 inches across the tri-county area.
  • Long-term rainfall deficits for the Hillsborough River basin increased over three inches to about 47.3 inches and the Alafia River watershed the deficit also increased by over 2 inches to 26.6 inches.
  • River flows continue to decline, flow in the Hillsborough River was about 78% below normal; daily flow remains below the 5th percentile.
  • Alafia River flow was about 80% below normal in March; daily flow remains below the 5th percentile.
  • Regional water demand in March averaged about 243 million gallons per day (mgd), a 5% increase from February demand.
  • As of March 12, 2009, the surface water treatment plant was taken out of service due to a lack of surface water.

Significant surface water flow deficits and the current trend of long-term below normal rainfall are expected to plague conditions in the region through the spring dry season. To eliminate the current surface water flow deficit problems and provide flows for treatment, consistent and well above normal rainfall is needed throughout the spring dry season, which is not anticipated.

Following a Tampa Bay Water request, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) entered into a Phase IV Critical Water Shortage for the tri-county area on April 3, 2009. Tampa Bay Water continues to request the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg, New Port Richey and counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco reduce demand and optimize enforcement of water restrictions.

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

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