UPDATE (Aug. 4, 2026): The information below has been updated to include Tampa Bay Water's July water supply data.
Recent storms have brought welcome rainfall across the Tampa Bay region, but what matters most for our drinking water supply is where that rain falls. To improve river flows and strengthen regional water supplies, Tampa Bay Water needs consistent rainfall in the Hillsborough and Alafia River watersheds—the inland areas that feed water into both rivers.
"We're encouraged by the rain we've seen from recent storm systems, but we still need more rainfall in the watersheds that supply our rivers," said Warren Hogg, chief science officer for Tampa Bay Water. "The good news is that conservation is something we can all do together while we wait for those conditions to improve."
While some communities have seen heavy downpours, rainfall across these key watersheds has been uneven. As a result, river flows remain lower than normal for this time of year and have not recovered enough to support sustained withdrawals for drinking water production.
When flows in the Hillsborough and Alafia rivers are reduced, Tampa Bay Water must rely more heavily on other parts of its diversified system, including stored water in the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir, groundwater and desalination. That's why conservation remains so important, even during the summer rainy season.
Residents can make a difference by following one-day-per-week watering restrictions, skipping irrigation when rain is in the forecast, fixing leaks promptly, taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth. Small actions taken across the region can add up to meaningful water savings.
As summer continues, Tampa Bay Water will closely monitor rainfall and river conditions. Consistent rain in the right places will help restore river flows, replenish regional supplies and reduce pressure on the water system. Learn more about simple ways to save water at tampabaywater.org/stepup.
