AWWA ACE59841

Would springs in the Gulf be a viable water supply source for the Tampa Bay, Florida region? After study, it was determined that this project concept was not a highly ranked option for implementation within the next twenty years. However, long before reaching that decision, Tampa Bay Water's proactive Long Term Planning process began with a Comprehensive Project List of over 300 ideas, including surface water, desalination, groundwater, brackish water, and spring sources, as well as reuse and reuse exchange projects. This paper describes the process by which Tampa Bay Water categorized, sorted, ranked, and evaluated these water supply ideas into an innovative and comprehensive Future Water Supply Plan to provide water for the region for the next twenty years. The program recognized from the beginning the importance of input from a wide cross section of the community in order to create a successful plan. To assist in this effort, Tampa Bay Water engaged the services of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. In addition to Tampa Bay Water's long standing Technical Advisory Committee, a Planning Advisory Committee was created to gain input from local planning, technical, regulatory and academic professionals on the comprehensive list of projects. The program also included a series of public meetings to gain input from citizens across the region. A web site was established to provide information and to collect input. Incorporating this input helped ensure that all potential project suggestions would be considered and the projects determined most appropriate for Tampa Bay Water would be recommended for further consideration. Includes tables, figures.