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When full, the 15-billion gallon reservoir can provide enough water to operate the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant at full capacity for more than six months.

The C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir is an above-ground, off-stream facility that stores water during wet times for use during dry times.

The reservoir holds 15 billion gallons of water skimmed from the Tampa Bypass Canal and Alafia and Hillsborough rivers - that's 33 times the volume of Raymond James Stadium and enough to supply 25 percent of the region's needs for more than six months.  By skimming surface water during rainy seasons, we can save enough water to make our system more reliable during dry times.

The reservoir began filling in March 2005 and was filled to capacity by November 2005.