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Tampa Bay Regional Water Supply and Drought Index (June 8, 2009)

CLEARWATER (June 8, 2009)- Surface water availability improved with abundant May rainfall amounts. Rainfall totals across the Tampa Bay region in May, were about 7 inches above normal for the month.

As the summer season approaches, the region remains under Critical Water Shortage conditions. River flows are slowly recovering; however, storage in the regional reservoir water remains critically low at about 1.7 billion gallons. Approximately 4.9 billion gallons of storage is needed to move out of the Critical Water Shortage. The regional surface water treatment plant re-started on May 29, 2009. Regional water facts for May:

  • Above normal rainfall totals in May stopped the trend of increasing monthly rainfall deficits. Rainfall totals averaged 5.4 to 15 inches.

  • Long-term rainfall deficits for the Hillsborough River basin decreased about 7.5 inch to 38.7 inches and the Alafia River watershed the deficit also decreased by7.5 inches to 19 inches.

  • River flows increased toward the end of the month. For the month of May, flow in the Alafia River was 79% above normal and flow in the Hillsborough River was 5% above normal.

  • Regional water demand in May averaged about 218 million gallons per day (mgd), a 2% decrease from April demand. Demands for this May dropped about 27% as compared to normal spring season demands without Phase IV watering restrictions in place.

The summer rainy season, which normally begins in June, is expected to bring normal precipitation amounts. River flows are expected to increase through the rainy season.

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. The City of Tampa eliminated automatic irrigation system use with potable water on April 3, 2009 and rescinded this order as of June 1, 2009.


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

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