TAMPA, Fla. — The regional utility that supplies drinking water to Tampa and its neighbors is getting $10 million in state money to boost how much water its main surface water plant can treat, part of a $100 million package Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Wednesday.
The grant goes to Tampa Bay Water, which serves Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties along with the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg and New Port Richey. The money will help raise capacity at the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant by as much as 12.5 million gallons per day.
Construction on that expansion started in March. The added capacity is scheduled to come online in 2028 and is meant to keep up with regional demand through 2033 as the population grows.
The governor made the announcement in Crystal River. Half of the $100 million is going to 22 alternative water supply projects, with the other half split among springs and water quality work. Once finished, the alternative supply projects are projected to produce more than 60 million gallons a day.
Elsewhere in the region, seven Polk County communities will share $12.6 million to develop brackish water, which is saltier than fresh water but can be treated to drinking standards, through the Polk Regional Water Cooperative.
State environmental officials say the alternative water grant program has drawn $385 million from the Legislature since 2019 and is expected to yield more than 400 million gallons a day when every funded project is running. The springs side of the package targets septic-to-sewer conversions and other work meant to cut nitrogen in Florida waterways.
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