The Brief
- Recent rain in the Tampa Bay area is helping refill reservoirs, but the region remains in a significant drought.
- Water utility records show the region is about 14 inches below normal rainfall, compared to a surplus last year.
- Officials say sustained rainfall over several months will be required before local water sources and reservoirs fully recover.
TAMPA, Fla. – Recent rain across the Bay Area is helping refill local reservoirs, but water officials warn the region remains in a severe rainfall deficit after months of drought.
Bay Area regional drought
What we know:
Tampa Bay Water supplies drinking water to Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, along with the cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg. The utility relies on groundwater from well fields, a desalination plant, and surface water from the Hillsborough and Alafia river systems.
The region is currently about 14 inches below normal annual rainfall, a major shift from a 10-inch surplus at the same time last year. When drought conditions caused river levels to fall, the river system could no longer contribute water, forcing groundwater to make up the difference. …