News Releases

News Release

For Immediate Release

CLEARWATER, Fla. (June 20, 2022) – Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors approved the utility’s fiscal year 2023 budget which includes a 0.57% increase in the uniform water rate. The new wholesale rate is $2.5781/1,000 gallons, an increase of $0.0147 over the current year. The 2023 budget balances the board’s three overarching goals to maintain a reliable water supply system, be good stewards of the environment and maintain cost effective rates.

“The 2023 budget accounts for the growth we’re experiencing in Tampa Bay, ensuring a reliable supply of clean, safe drinking water at an affordable rate,” said Chuck Carden, general manager for Tampa Bay Water.

As the region continues to grow, so does the need for new water supply infrastructure. The approved budget addresses the utility’s capital needs through 2032, which include new water supply and water quality projects.

At less than a penny per gallon, wholesale tap water remains a value in the Tampa Bay region. For a typical residential household, which uses about 4,200 gallons of water a month, the rate increase means an extra $0.06 in their monthly bill from the wholesale rate.

Projected demand for the region in 2023 is 197.5 million gallons per day (mgd)−5.3 mgd more than 2022. The increase in regional water sales represents a $6 million increase in revenue and helps minimize the rate increase.

The following supply sources are targeted to meet the utility’s six-member governments’ projected demands in 2023:

• Groundwater – 115.5 mgd (84.7 mgd from consolidated wellfields and 30.8 mgd from other dispersed wellfields)
• Surface water – 74.0 mgd
• Desalinated seawater – 8.0 mgd

Other budget highlights include:

• Tampa Bay Water’s fiscal year 2023 budget is $192.3 million
• The increase in demand is due to growth in member governments’ service areas, particularly South-Central Hillsborough service area
• 89 capital improvement projects totaling $1.3 billion over the next 10 years are projected
  • The total capital improvement programs budget includes three large project placeholders, that are not yet fully defined, totaling $700 million
• 44 capital improvement projects totaling $95 million are planned in fiscal year 2023 funded by:
  • $11.9 million from the utility’s Capital Improvement Fund
  • $4.2 million from the utility’s Uniform Rate Fund
  • $9.3 million from the utility’s Renewal and Replacement Fund
  • $5 million from State of Florida grants and Southwest Florida Water Management District co-funding
  • $3.5 million from joint project agreements and member government contributions
  • $61 million from Revenue Bonds
• One additional staff position is included to help the agency maintain effectiveness with the increased volume and complexity of upcoming procurements related to the ten-year Capital Improvement Program
• $6.7 million in other funding sources reduce the amount needed from water sales
  • $4.3 million in unencumbered funds from 2022
  • $1.9 million in investment revenue
  • $392 thousand from surplus water sales at Tampa Bypass Canal
  • $42 thousand from a facility operations and maintenance contract agreement with Pasco County at the Lake Bridge facility

As a non-profit, special district of the State of Florida, Tampa Bay Water has no taxing authority and is funded through the sale of wholesale water to its member governments. Each member pays the same wholesale rate and shares costs to operate and maintain the regional water supply system and develop new water supplies.

About Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.5 million residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Water member governments include Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. To learn more, visit tampabaywater.org.