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Update on the Alafia River Water Supply Project (Information)
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The 2017 Phase 2 Implementation Agreement Engineers Report established the top priorities for alternative water supply options in the Polk County region. One of the highest ranked projects was a surface water project that captured flows from the North and South prongs of the Alafia River in Polk County. Initial analysis by TeamOne indicated up to 15 MGD of long-term annual average 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 be needed by 2070. The Alafia River will potentially be a critical option to provide this additional supply.
On July 22, 2025, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) approved a water use permit modification request from Tampa Bay Water (TBW). The permit modification will allow TBW to increase their withdrawal from 10% to 19% of river flows after minimum low flow criteria are met. Water availability analysis by the PRWC indicates that the permit modification granted to Tampa Bay Water makes a PRWC water supply project on the Alafia no longer be viable. Following discussions with TBW and SWFWMD regarding PRWC concerns, the PRWC filed a petition for a formal administrative hearing with the District on September 30, 2025.
An Administrative Law Judge was appointed, and a hearing date was set for March 4-11, 2026. Following on-going legal actions, the parties agreed to delay the hearing to attempt mediation. On March 12, 2026, a mediation session between the PRWC, SWFMWD, and TBW occurred. As a resul...
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