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

CLEARWATER (May 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 April, were about 40% 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 April:

  • The region is well into the spring season when rainfall totals are normally low and temperatures continue to warm and humidity levels are low. The trend of individual monthly rainfall deficits continued throughout the region, averaging about 60% or 0.9 inches below the normal of 2.37 inches. Rainfall deficits ranged from 0.5 inch to 1.8 inches across the tri-county area.
  • Long-term rainfall deficits for the Hillsborough River basin increased about 0.5 inch to 45.8 inches and the Alafia River watershed the deficit also increased by 0.9 inch to 26.5 inches.
  • River flows are at critically low levels for both the Hillsborough and Alafia Rivers; new daily minimum flows are being set.
  • Regional water demand in April averaged about 222 million gallons per day (mgd), a 9% decrease from March 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. The City of Tampa eliminated automatic irrigation system use with potable water on April 3, 2009.

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

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