The tampa bay desalination plant was developed to ensure it sustains tampa bay residents with alternative water resources and to relieve the potential for over extraction of groundwater resources which historically have lead to depleted riparian resources and sink holes.
Tampa bay seawater desalination plant.
The plant is the hub of the utility s enhanced surface water system the first alternative water supply built to serve local governments that traditionally relied on groundwater.
This drought proof alternative water supply was added to the system in late 2007 provides up to 25 mgd of drinking water to the region.
The diluted concentrate is discharged to tampa bay see fig.
Tampa bay seawater desal plant review update.
The tampa bay seawater desalination plant catches up to 44 million gallons per day of that warm seawater for desalination.
This region has often suffered from long periods of drought and dwindling groundwater resources.
Larger seawater desalination plants are operating in the mediterranean and middle east regions but the us 108 million tampa bay desalination project on florida s gulf coast is the largest of its kind in a highly regulated environment.
Since september 2002 tampa bay water s state of the art surface water treatment plant has provided high quality drinking water to the tampa bay region.
The tampa bay project is but one of acciona agua s 70 reference plants in the sector with a total installed capacity of over 1 6 million cubic meters per day.
Four vendors submitted proposals in december 1997 and binding competitive tenders were received in october 1998.
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Fravel the region is also trying to meet the increase need due to a growing population in the region.
Download pdf for issue tampa bay water s tbw seawater desalination plant is one of the best known most written about desal projects in history.
The tampa bay seawater desalination plant catches up to 44 million gallons per day mgd of that warm seawater separates it into drinking water and concentrated seawater and dilutes the twice as salty seawater before returning it to the bay.
The tampa bay seawater desalination plant began construction in 2001 to help meet the long term water needs of the west central region of florida.