The state-of-the-art Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant came on-line in September 2002, introducing the first non-groundwater supply into the regional drinking water system. The plant, which is the hub of Tampa Bay Water's interconnected Master Water Plan, treats water harvested from the Tampa Bypass Canal, Alafia and Hillsborough rivers.
The plant was built under a successful public-private partnership with Veolia Water, formerly USFilter. Under this Design-Build-Operate process, Tampa Bay Water is the owner of the plant, but Veolia designed, built and is under contract to operate the plant until 2023.
The surface water system currently has an average annual yield of 60 million gallons per day based on available supply.
The surface water treatment facility was designed for state-of-the-art technology that is automated for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Tampa Bay Water residents can be proud of having one of the most advanced surface water treatment plants in the nation providing them some of the highest quality drinking water in the world.
In the fall of 2010, the surface water system will be expanded as part of the next phase of the Master Water Plan. After additional infrastructure is built and the plant is expanded, the surface water system is expected to have an average annual yield of 87 million gallons per day based on available supply.
