Wellfield Rehydration: ‘‘A Partnership for Improvement''

The use of groundwater withdrawals for potable water supply has long been a staple for the Tampa Bay region. Although groundwater offers a high quality abundant resource at a relatively low cost, concerns of environmental impacts have prompted the call for reduction in wellfield pumpage. Local regulatory agencies, responding to these concerns have programmed reductions in current wellfield pumpage. These reductions have, in turn, resulted in the development of various alternatives for future supply including surface water, an above ground reservoir, reverse osmosis and desalination. Even with these new supplies coming on line within the next 20-years the reliance on groundwater for a significant portion of the 245-million gallon per day potable demand will continue. The question then becomes, "how do you continue to utilize groundwater to the extent practical while eliminating the environmental impacts of the withdrawal?" To respond, Tampa Bay Water, the regional water supplier has developed a wellfield rehydration program that identifies potential impact mitigation strategies within each of five major wellfields. The task is to determine if surface water and reclaimed water are viable as sources for rehydration. This is being accomplished through the Section 21 Wellfield Rehydration Pilot Project a partnership between Tampa Bay Water, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, United States Environmental Protection Agency and the local cities and counties in the region. This paper discusses the development of a Risk Assessment that evaluates the potential impacts to the groundwater system and the design and monitoring of the rehydration facilities.