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Commission approves South Hillsborough pipeline agreement and declines arbitration of Tampa Bay Water permit transfers
Summary
The commission approved an amended interlocal agreement with Tampa Bay Water for the South Hillsborough pipeline and realigned $45 million in the water budget; later the board voted not to seek arbitration on two Tampa Bay Water water‑use permit modification applications.
The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 19 to approve an amended and restated interlocal joint project agreement with Tampa Bay Water for the South Hillsborough pipeline project and to realign $45,000,000 in county budget authority to support the work.
Lisa Ray, the county’s water resources director, told the board the pipeline will move drinking water from Tampa Bay Water’s regional plant to Hillsborough County’s Lithia plant and a future Balm-area plant; the budget amendment was presented to realign $45,000,000 to the project. The board approved the interlocal agreement and the budget realignment, 7–0.
Several hours later during a separate public hearing, Kevin Moran, environmental services division director, presented two Tampa Bay Water water‑use permit modification applications: one transferring 5,171,400 gallons per day of groundwater rights from Farmland Reserve, Inc. and Land Reserve, Inc. to Tampa Bay Water (Balm Farm modification) and another transferring 1,972,700 gallons per day from Tampa Electric Company to Tampa Bay Water (South Central Hillsborough modification). County staff recommended the county not request arbitration on the two permit modifications; the board directed staff not to pursue arbitration, and the motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: Tampa Bay Water is a regional wholesale supplier whose infrastructure and allocation decisions affect long-term supply for Hillsborough County. The pipeline project and permit transfers relate to how regional water sources are managed and how future potable supply will be routed to county customers and planned facilities.
Details and next steps: The pipeline project approval included the county’s recommendation to realign $45,000,000 as part of the county’s capital program. The permit applications were presented as transfers of existing permitted groundwater withdrawals; county staff said the Tampa Bay Water applications demonstrate no off-site impacts and recommended against arbitration. The board’s actions keep the permitting process with the water management and state permitting authorities rather than initiating a local arbitration review.
Implementation and oversight: Water Resources and Environmental Services staff will coordinate with Tampa Bay Water on project milestones and the necessary permitting and land‑acquisition schedules. The board recorded the approvals with standard reporting and budget‑tracking requirements.
