SUBJECT
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Alafia River Alternative Water Supply Permitting Project (Action)
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DESCRIPTION
The 2017 Phase 2 Implementation Agreement Engineers Report established the top priorities for alternative water supply options in the Polk County region, including the Southeast and West Polk Lower Floridan Aquifer Wellfield AWS Projects. One of the highest ranked projects in this report was a surface water project that relied on flows from the North and South prongs of the Alafia River. Initial analysis by TeamOne indicated that up to 10 MGD of surface water flow was available to the PRWC. This project continues to be listed as a future water supply source for the PRWC in both the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) and Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) Regional Water Supply Plans. PRWC water supply demand projections indicate that between 14 and 27 MGD of additional alternative water supply, beyond conservation and the Southeast, West Polk Projects, and Peace River/Peace Creek projects, will need to be developed by 2070. The Alafia River will potentially be a critical option to provide this additional supply.
On March 14, 2025, a meeting was held between Tampa Bay Water (TBW) and the PRWC where TBW provided notice to the PRWC that they intended to apply for a modification to their existing Water Use Permit on the Alafia River. The permit modification will allow TBW to increase their withdrawal from 10% to 19% of river flows after minimum low flow criteria are met. Initial water availability analysis by the PRWC indicates that if the permit modification is granted to Tampa Bay Water, a PRWC water supply project on the Alafia would no longer be viable.
At the April 21, 2025 TBW Board of Directors meeting, TBW staff requested Board approval to submit the permit modification to the SWFWMD. Following staff presentation and comments by the PRWC Executive Director, the TBW Board authorized staff to submit the permit modification request, allowing for a 30-day review/comment time by individual TBW members before submittal. The PRWC expects TBW to submit the permit application sometime in late May 2025.
In order to protect the PRWC’s interests in the Alafia River as a future alternative water supply source for the Polk County region, the PRWC has initiated discussions with TeamOne to submit a PRWC Water Use Permit application for the additional flows available on the Alafia River. TeamOne has developed a Scope-of-Work for permit development, application, and support through the permit process. The total estimated cost to the PRWC for this work is $69,543 (not-to exceed cost) which includes $3,000 in costs as an allowance for work that might not be needed.
The PRWC has determined that the most direct method to fund the permit application costs is to fund the project through the PRWC administrative budget. This would increase the amount budgeted in the Administration Budget for the current 2025 fiscal year. The cost of the increase to each member is shown in the attached table. If approved, the PRWC will invoice members for these costs by the end of FY2025.
As mentioned previously, if TBW obtains a permit for the remainder of the Alafia River flows available under the minimum flow rule criteria, the PRWC will no longer have a viable project associated with this source of water.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the TeamOne budget for the Alafia River Alternative Water Supply Permitting Project, amend the administrative budget by $69,543 to cover this work, and authorize staff to submit a Water Use Permit Application for available surface water flows on the Alafia River.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost to develop and support a Water Use Permit application to the SWFWMD is not to exceed cost of $69,543. Funds would be collected through a budget amendment increasing the administrative budget by $69,543.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Eric DeHaven
Katie Gierok
Ed de la Parte
