AWWA SOURCES59179

Tampa Bay Water, Florida's largest wholesale water supplier, is required to cut back groundwater pumping from 158 million gallons per day (mgd) to 121 mgd in 2003, with further reductions to 90 mgd by 2008. To meet the new groundwater pumping limits, it was necessary for Tampa Bay Water to start using alternative supply sources including surface waters. In September 2002, new surface water supplies from the Hillsborough River/Tampa Bypass Canal system (HRTBC) were brought online. Tampa Bay Water utilizes an integrated hydrologic simulation model and an optimization model to manage pumpage from groundwater and surface water facilities. Weekly streamflow forecasting is required for estimating treated surface water availability for input into the optimization model. This paper describes the development of a suite of computer modeling tools that forecast daily flows and levels for a one-week period at key locations along the HRTBC. Includes 14 references, figures.