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Tampa Bay Water approves drilling amendment to seek new supply in East Pasco; allows depth to 3,000 feet
Summary
The board unanimously authorized an amendment to extend drilling at the East Pasco Wellfield core hole to a maximum depth of 3,000 feet to locate a productive Lower Floridan zone; estimates range from 3 to 9 MGD depending on source yields.
The Tampa Bay Water board on May 18 approved a contract amendment that allows drillers to extend a core hole for the East Pasco Wellfield to a maximum depth of 3,000 feet to test the Lower Floridan Aquifer for a potential new water source.
Mr. Hogg, the agency’s chief science officer, said the project is part of the master water plan feasibility study to determine how demands might be met in the 2033 planning horizon. He said initial drilling had reached roughly 2,100 feet without encountering a sustained productive zone and that consultants had estimated encountering the productive zone near 2,200 feet based on very limited geologic data. The amendment authorizes deeper drilling so staff and consultants can collect continuous core samples and water‑quality data; Hogg said the team will stop drilling once a sustained productive zone is located to avoid unnecessary costs.
Hogg told the board the project currently estimates potential production of between 3 and 9 million gallons per day depending on how much of the Upper and Lower Floridan Aquifers can be developed. He noted the cores will be donated to the Florida Geological Society for statewide study. The board voted unanimously to approve the contract amendment.
Board members asked technical questions about expected depths and aquifer characteristics; staff described a confining unit between the Upper and Lower Floridan that limits vertical flow and said the drilling team is collecting cores and testing every 20–25 feet until they find a sustained yield.
