Water Resources maintains 500 miles of reclaimed water pipes and pumps more than 35 million gallons of reclaimed water per day
Hillsborough County Water Resources has been in the reclaimed water business since the 1980s. Over the years, the program has grown and continues to be a significant asset for the County and its residents by repurposing treated wastewater that is used for irrigation.
Hundreds of miles of pipes
Today, Hillsborough County Water Resources maintains 500 miles of reclaimed water pipes. Hillsborough has 12 reclaimed water pump stations throughout the county, pumps more than 35 million gallons of reclaimed water per day on a 12-month annual average, and it has 22 reclaimed water storage tanks to hold 113 million gallons of reclaimed water.
Water Resources has more than 27,000 residential and commercial reclaimed water customers. They include14 golf courses, schools, and parks that use the County's treated reclaimed water, and six industrial users that also use the County's treated reclaimed water, including Tampa Electric Co., National Gypsum, and Cargill. Commercial operations also use reclaimed water for cooling towers and dust control on construction sites.
But what is reclaimed water and why is it being used?
Reclaimed water is treated wastewater. Wastewater is water that flows down the drain. To create reclaimed water, County licensed operators treat the wastewater that comes into five advanced wastewater treatment plants in the county. Once wastewater goes through the treatment process, it becomes reclaimed water, and it can be used for irrigation.
The benefits are many. Converting wastewater into reclaimed water reduces the stress on the water supply and conserves the potable (drinking) water supply. It reduces disposal into waterways, which helps cut nutrient loads in the bays and rivers. It's a high-quality water source for irrigating industrial and natural systems. And it reduces fertilizer use, as some nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus remain in the treated reclaimed water. The County also operates ground water recharge injection wells by injecting the reclaimed water into the aquifer. This action helps prevent saltwater intrusion into the fresh-water system, and it helps reduce the amount of reclaimed water that the County has to discharge into Tampa Bay.
Lawns, plants, and safety
Reclaimed water is safe for most lawns and plants. A few plants, such as certain species of azaleas and roses, are sensitive to the slightly higher chloride (salt) content of reclaimed water. Reclaimed water can be used on crops that will be peeled, skinned, cooked, or thermally processed before consumption.
Although reclaimed water has no odor - except for a slight chlorine scent - and there's no staining, it's not suitable for human consumption, and it is not to be used for pools or hot tubs. Hillsborough County is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the reclaimed water transmission and distribution lines up to the customer's point of connection.
Award winning system
Hillsborough County Water Resources is one of the largest reclaimed retail providers is the country, winning numerous awards from the Florida Water Environmental Association over the years. This month, Hillsborough County's Purple Stingray Reclaimed Water Operations Team received the David W. York Reuse Professional of the Year award, presented by the Florida Water Environment Association. The Hillsborough County Purple Stingray Operations Team has four staffers who are responsible for the pumping of the reclaimed water. They are operations manager Michael Lehigh and Emmett Lee, Jennifer Kampwerth, and Kevin Kraujalis, who are certified reclaimed water operators.
Getting reclaimed water
Reclaimed water service in Hillsborough County is presently available on a case-by-case basis. The County will work with homeowner's associations to determine the feasibility and cost involved to construct a reclaimed water distribution system to a subdivision. A member of the homeowner's association or neighborhood representative should email our Service Availability team at WaterDept@HCFL.Gov to determine reclaimed water availability in the area.
To obtain more information about reclaimed water, visit HCFL.gov/Water call (813) 272-5977, ext. 13611 or email waterdept@HCFL.gov.