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Tampa Bay Water says region has enough supply now but plans expansions and PFAS fixes

Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners · November 13, 2025

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Summary

Tampa Bay Water general manager Chuck Carden told Pinellas County commissioners the utility is meeting current demand but is entering a growth phase that requires pipeline, wellfield and plant expansion. He emphasized reserve-funded rate stability and ongoing PFAS monitoring tied to forthcoming EPA limits.

Chuck Carden, general manager of Tampa Bay Water, told the Pinellas County Commission on Thursday that the regional water supplier currently delivers about 209 million gallons a day to member governments and that Pinellas County purchases roughly 50 million gallons a day. "Our mission is simple, to reliably provide clean, safe water to the Tampa Bay region now and for future generations," Carden said.

Carden outlined work under way to increase supply and resilience, including expansion of a surface‑water treatment plant (to 140 million gpd when complete), a phased South Hillsborough wellfield, and a 26‑mile pipeline connecting treatment plants. He said the board has used rate stabilization reserves to limit wholesale rate increases while the agency invests in capital projects.

On water quality, Carden said Tampa Bay Water is sampling for PFAS and is preparing for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—s new limits slated to take effect in 2031. "We meet the new standards except for three connection points in Hillsborough County that are slightly above these new regulations," he said, and the utility expects to bring recommendations to its board next year on how to address those locations.

Commissioners asked about conservation outreach and rebates; Carden and staff said the WaterWise program coordinates county rebate programs, works with IFAS and has an ambition to save 3.8 million gallons a day by 2030. "We went over one million gallons saved to date," he said.

The presentation closed with a reminder that the region still must plan for future growth through 2028 and 2033, and with a staff‑driven timeline for design, permitting and early construction work on prioritized projects.