Technology Used to Protect the Environment
In the Tampa Bay Area, we have learned a great deal about protecting sensitive ecosystems to ensure that water supplies will be available in the future. This goal of "sustainability" is why Tampa Bay Water has placed great emphasis on new environmental technologies.
A more stringent permitting process also ensures sustainability of our natural resources. In the past, the permitting process relied upon short-term model simulations --three to four months, in some cases. Today, multi-year simulations are used.
To further help protect the environment, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which issues most consumptive water use permits, is establishing minimum flows and levels. These minimums will help prevent existing water resources from being over utilized.
And today, Tampa Bay Water's focus is on long-term hydrologic and ecological sustainability. Extensive hydrological and biological studies are conducted for each project so protective measures can be built into each project design.
Despite all the improvements in predictive modeling, science is still inexact in many situations. Not everything can be known in advance. Therefore, early assumptions must be confirmed through tracking and monitoring. Then, operations can be adjusted to respond to actual conditions.
Tampa Bay Water's goal is to meet our region's water needs while protecting our environment for the future. With new technologies to accurately predict, and extensive monitoring programs to track the effects of new supply sources, that goal can be met.
As a condition of its water use permits, Tampa Bay Water has implemented an extensive hydro-biological monitoring program for its new surface water source projects, including the Alafia River, Hillsborough River and Tampa Bypass Canal.
Although studies have shown we have no reason to expect these projects will cause adverse impacts on the environment, the hydro-biological monitoring program:
- Provides an early warning system to alert us of changes in the environment that might be associated with the surface water withdrawals.
- It includes safety triggers. If we observe change as a result of our withdrawals that may lead to environmental damage, we can take steps to ensure the region's natural resources are not harmed.
- Provides "reasonable assurances" to regulatory agencies, and the public, that these projects will not adversely impact the environment.
- Collect at least two years of baseline data on the water sources before they begin operating in summer 2002. Data collection and monitoring began in April 2000 and will continue throughout the life of the water use permit. Monitoring data will be available on our web site so the community can see the results of this intensive program.
While the program will help us better manage our surface water source projects, it has other community benefits, as well. It will:
- Help resource managers and scientists to focus in on areas where existing environmental conditions and habitat might be improved.
- Greatly increase the scientific community's understanding of environmental conditions in the lower Alafia, lower Hillsborough and Palm River systems, as well as McKay and Hillsborough bays.
The monitoring program was designed by an inclusive group of scientists, environmentalists and water professionals representing many different agencies, including:
- Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission
- Southwest Florida Water Management District
- Agency on Bay Management
- Audubon Society
- Tampa Bay Water member governments
- Tampa Bay Estuary Program
The cost of this comprehensive monitoring program is estimated at nearly $1 million annually.
