General manager reports reservoir levels steady, desal operations and permit updates

Tampa Bay Water General Manager Mr. Carton told the board the system is performing within targets: average delivery is about 198 million gallons per day (about 1% less than the same period last year) and the reservoir holds about 13,500,000,000 gallons, above projections. He said recent rains boosted coastal levels but inland replenishment was uneven. The desalination plant is operating at about 16,000,000 gallons per day and the surface water treatment plant about 60 million gallons per day; the City of Tampa recently began buying about 8,000,000 gallons per day. Carton reviewed permit statuses: the consolidated water use permit limit is 90 (August average 76.76), the South Central Hillsborough regional wellfield permit is currently limited to 24.95 (agency at 24.75) and staff expects a permit change in October or November that would raise that limit to 26.92. He also discussed an Eliphire River permit modification the board previously approved that allows taking 19% of high river flows (in lieu of 10% previously); since the change the agency has taken almost 1,200,000,000 gallons of additional water. Carton said Polk Regional Water Supply Cooperative has until Sept. 30 to decide whether it will challenge the permit and staff have held several meetings on the issue. He also previewed a possible Cone Ranch exchange with Hillsborough County involving development rights and land for well sites, and reminded board members about member government presentations and the mini‑grant program (staff said applications are open through Nov. 14).