At the October 2025 meeting, Tampa Bay Water’s board of directors approved moving forward with design and construction of the South Hillsborough Wellfield as the region’s next new water supply project. The new wellfield is projected to supply 6-12 million gallons per day (mgd) of high-quality drinking water as early as 2030.
This project was shortlisted in Tampa Bay Water’s 2018 and 2023 Long-term Master Water Plans and was deemed feasible in 2021 through a detailed study that analyzed technical, environmental and economic aspects of the project. This project produces a net benefit to the aquifer in southern Hillsborough County.
The South Hillsborough Wellfield project involves building a new fresh groundwater wellfield in fast-growing southern Hillsborough County, where water is needed. The wellfield will be in the Balm area of south Hillsborough County, near the end point for the South Hillsborough Pipeline and near Hillsborough County’s new water treatment facility.
To date, Tampa Bay Water has acquired five water use permits in south Hillsborough County that are no longer needed by area landowners. The amount of water that can be transferred from these permits to the South Hillsborough Wellfield totals 3.9-5.9 mgd, depending on determinations made by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. An additional 6.1 mgd may be available if Tampa Bay Water and Hillsborough County reach a long-term agreement on credits available via Hillsborough County’s aquifer recharge program.
The wellfield will include:
Affordability – This project has minimal impact on Tampa Bay Water’s Uniform Rate, estimated at $0.08 to $0.11 per 1,000 gallons.
Environmentally sound – Tampa Bay Water’s studies show that the aquifer in this area is highly productive with high-quality drinking water. Modeling shows that proposed withdrawals will be environmentally sound with no adverse impacts to the environment or other existing well users.
Proximity – This project is located where water is needed, in southern Hillsborough County.
Capital costs for design and construction are estimated to be $126.2 million to $166.5 million.
Tampa Bay Water held a public meeting on the proposed South Hillsborough Wellfield on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, at the SouthShore Regional Library. To view the presentation slide deck, click here.
SOURCE: Upper Floridan Aquifer
PROJECT YIELD: 6 - 12 million gallons per day
KEY POINTS: new, high-quality groundwater; low cost; net benefit to aquifer; within high growth area
