Tampa Bay Diversifies Water Sources to Reduce Climate Risk ^epa-gov/arc-x/tampa-bay-diversifies-water-sources-reduce-climate-risk Tampa Bay Water provides drinking water for nearly two and a half million residents on the gulf coast of Florida. Historically, the utility relied largely on groundwater to satisfy the nearly 250 million gallons of water required per day (mgd). The utility's operators recognized the increasing vulnerability of its groundwater source to saltwater intrusion and completed construction of a desalination plant in 2008. The utility now delivers 'blended' water using groundwater, surface water, and desalinated water. However, Tampa Bay Water faces numerous risks from climate change including more frequent and intense storms as well as flooding and the aforementioned threat of saltwater intrusion. Therefore, the utility operators decided to more systematically estimate its source water vulnerability to projected changes in precipitation levels and saltwater intrusion and assess its ability to meet an anticipated increase in demand of water to 275 mgd by 2035. The analysis confirmed Tampa Bay Water's previous good judgment of diversifying its water sources and indicated that its upgraded system likely enables the utility to meet its anticipated future needs even in a changing climate. Tampa Bay Water continues to anticipate, plan and prepare for the challenges of a changing climate through working with the Water Utility Climate Alliance, a collaboration among ten of the country's water utilities that provide leadership on climate issues, and the Florida Water Climate Alliance, a collaboration among state universities, water utilities and water management agencies focusing on climate change. How Did They Do It? Applicable EPA Tools Tampa Bay Water diversified water sources to protect its groundwater resource • Tampa Bay Water invested in a 25 mgd saltwater desalination plant ($158 million) in anticipation and preparation of salt water intrusion. Adaptation Strategies Guide identifies strategies for how utilities can protect source water from climate change, including from saltwater intrusion. Adaptation Strategies Guide 1/2 ------- How Did They Do It? Applicable EPA Tools Tampa Bay Water found partners, secured funding, and conducted a vulnerability assessment Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) helps utilities identify current and future climate impacts and assess vulnerability of water utility facilities. • Tampa Bay Water used a NOAA two-year grant to fund a collaborative effort with the University of Florida and the Florida Water Climate Alliance to analyze climate impacts downscaling techniques. • In order to better understand future climate projections and their impact to Tampa Bay water supply, this research partnership calculated a way to Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) correct bias in statistically and dynamically downsized General Circulation Model (GCM) and is currently attempting to identify bias correction for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project-Phase 5. o Learn more at USGCRP Models • Initial results from this analysis show that there is still high variability in the projected precipitation with climate change, which supports previous efforts to diversify and expand access to water supply sources. • The next phase of this project will explore future population changes and anthropogenic vs. climatic factors affecting water availability in the region in order to evaluate the water management strategies that can reduce risk and increase resilience of the water supply for the Tampa Bay region. Similar Cases and More Information Many communities in the southeast may have to deal with challenges to their source water, whether it is saltwater intrusion, sea level rise or threats to the facilities infrastructure. To learn more about Tampa Bay's decision to diversify its source water resiliency to current and future conditions view Tampa Bay Water's case study on the Climate Resilience Toolkit. For another water utility that adapted against concerns for saltwater intrusion, view the Anacortes Sea Level Rise Study. • Tampa Bay Water's case study • Anacortes Sea Level Rise Study 2/2 ------- |