Tampa Bay Water is evaluating three routes for a new drinking water pipeline to supply Hillsborough County. Residents can provide input on the three routes under consideration by taking a short survey. The survey will remain open from June 14 through July 8. Para información en español llame al (813) 929-4570.
Hillsborough County residents can also participate in a telephone town hall meeting on July 12 to hear about the pipeline project and Tampa Bay Water's Long-term Master Water Plan projects. Please click below to sign up.
Southern Hillsborough County is experiencing unprecedented population growth that is driving the demand for additional drinking water. By 2045, the number of homes in the Boyette area is expected to grow by one-third, the number in Wimauma is expected to more than double, and the number in the Balm area is expected to nearly triple.
Tampa Bay Water is building the new South Hillsborough Pipeline to meet this need. The new pipeline will carry up to 65 million gallons per day (mgd) of additional drinking water to the southern Hillsborough service area.
This new pipeline will be approximately 25 miles long and will range in diameter from 36 inches to 72 inches. It will start at the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant in Brandon, connect to Hillsborough County’s Lithia Water Treatment Plant and end at the County’s new connection point at Balm Riverview and Balm roads.
Engineering consultants studied and evaluated potential routes using evaluation criteria including the length of the pipeline, cost, public inconvenience, safety, major road or waterway crossings, soil considerations, environmental impacts, long-range planning and more. They have identified three top routes for consideration. In August, these routes will be ranked and presented to Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors. Staff will request approval to proceed with design and property acquisition of the top-ranked route.
Top Routes for New South Hillsborough Pipeline
The South Hillsborough Pipeline will connect Tampa Bay Water’s regional system to a new Hillsborough County water treatment facility and will also provide a back-up connection to the Lithia Water Treatment Plant. The pipeline route shown is only representative of the connection between facilities and not the actual route. Route studies are underway and will be shared with the community in spring 2022.
Tampa Bay Water estimates the total cost is just over $300 million. Tampa Bay Water has received $4.5 million in co-funding from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for preliminary design and will apply for additional funds in fiscal year 2023 and beyond.
Hillsborough County will pay for its portion of the pipeline, which is estimated to cost $66 million.
Tampa Bay Water provides wholesale water to the public utility systems of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, as well as the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. You may opt in to receive notices by sending an email to projectinfo@tampabaywater.org or by calling (813) 486-0361.
