Tampa Bay Water

What Tampa Bay Water does

Tampa Bay Water is a not-for-profit public utility and special district of the State of Florida, established in 1998 and headquartered in Clearwater. It is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing drinking water at wholesale rates to six member governments — Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties, and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa — which in turn serve more than 2.6 million residents across the Tampa Bay region. The utility has no taxing authority and is funded exclusively through wholesale water sales, revenue bonds, and state and federal grants.

The utility operates a multi-source supply system combining groundwater from consolidated wellfields (~120.84 mgd), surface water treated at the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant (~79 mgd), and seawater from the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant (13–28 mgd), with the 15.5-billion-gallon C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir providing critical drought buffer. Active capital projects include a $181 million, 12.5-mgd surface water treatment plant expansion in partnership with CDM Smith and Veolia Water North America (operational by 2028), a 26-mile South Hillsborough Pipeline capable of delivering up to 65 mgd to southern Hillsborough County (complete by end of 2028), a $15.5 million Reverse Osmosis Trains Project restoring the desalination plant to its 28-mgd design capacity by 2027, and the approved South Hillsborough Wellfield projected to add 6–12 mgd by 2030.

Tampa Bay Water's business model is a regulated wholesale subscription: member governments purchase at a uniform FY2027 rate of $2.6593 per thousand gallons (a 0.78% increase from the prior year), with the FY2027 operating budget of $223.8 million supported by a $291.4 million Capital Improvements Program covering 43 active projects. Demand-side programs include Tampa Bay Water Wise (20 consumer rebates, ~$0.78/k-gal saved vs. $4–$12 for new supply), an annual $50,000 Water Conservation and Protection Grant Program, and partnership with UF/IFAS Extension on the Community Water Wise Awards. The system has reduced groundwater dependence by nearly 50%, supporting environmental recovery of local lakes and wetlands while maintaining uninterrupted supply through hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Name

Tampa Bay Water

Legal name

Tampa Bay Water

Website

https://tampabaywater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Tampa Bay Water is a Florida not-for-profit public utility and special district that supplies wholesale drinking water to six member governments (Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa), serving more than 2.6 million regional residents through an integrated groundwater, surface water, desalination, and reservoir system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Utility Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

Keywords

• Wholesale water supply
• Drinking water utility
• Water treatment services
• Groundwater management
• Seawater desalination

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Water Sales: Tampa Bay Water operates as a not-for-profit public utility funded through the sale of wholesale water to its member governments. The current wholesale water rate is $2.64 per 1,000 gallons. For FY2027, the uniform water rate is $2.6593 per 1,000 gallons, a 0.78% increase from the current fiscal year. The utility has no taxing authority.
2. Revenue Bonds and State/Federal Funding: Major infrastructure projects are financed through revenue bonds alongside state and federal funding. The FY2027 Capital Improvements Program totals $291.4 million with 43 active projects including the South Hillsborough Pipeline and Surface Water Treatment Plant Expansion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tampa Bay Water is a regional wholesale water supplier that produces and delivers drinking water to six member governments (Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties, and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa). The utility operates a diversified multi-source system combining groundwater from consolidated wellfields, treated surface water from the Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant, and seawater from the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant, with the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir providing 15.5-billion-gallon storage.

Product overview

Tampa Bay Water is a regional water utility that operates as a not-for-profit public agency, providing wholesale drinking water to more than 2.6 million people through member governments (Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties; cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg, and Tampa). The utility operates a diverse water supply system combining groundwater (120.84 mgd total), surface water (79.0 mgd via the Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant), and seawater desalination (approximately 13-28 mgd), supported by the 15.5-billion-gallon C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir. Major capital projects include the $181 million Surface Water Treatment Plant expansion and the 26-mile South Hillsborough Pipeline. Demand-side programs include the Tampa Bay Water Wise rebate program (offering 20 rebates for water-efficient devices) and the Water Conservation and Protection Grant Program ($50,000 annually for community water projects). The utility operates under a Water Shortage Mitigation Plan with multiple restriction stages. Tampa Bay Water has no public-facing API products; its technology infrastructure consists of standard business systems for procurement (Bonfire) and internal operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tampa Bay Water Wise: Regional water conservation rebate program offering 20 separate rebates to homeowners, property owners, contractors and builders to reduce water use.
• South Hillsborough Pipeline
• South Hillsborough Wellfield

Products and services

• Wholesale Drinking Water Supply Wholesale drinking water supplied to six member governments (Hillsborough County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, City of New Port Richey, City of St. Petersburg, and City of Tampa), serving more than 2.6 million residents in the Tampa Bay region. Priced at $2.6593 per 1,000 gallons for FY2027.
• Groundwater Supply Groundwater drawn from the Floridan Aquifer system through 86.34 mgd from consolidated wellfields and 34.5 mgd from other groundwater sources, representing a significant portion of the regional water supply.
• Surface Water Treatment River water treatment through the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant, currently providing 79.0 mgd sourced from the Hillsborough River, Alafia River, and Tampa Bypass Canal.
• Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Drought-proof drinking water source treating seawater from Tampa Bay, providing approximately 13-20 million gallons per day, with efforts to restore design capacity of approximately 28 mgd through the Reverse Osmosis Trains Project.
• Water Quality Testing and PFAS Treatment Comprehensive water quality management including PFAS and Total Organic Carbon treatment at five locations, source water protection programs, and compliance with EPA and Florida DEP regulations.
• Tampa Bay Water Wise Rebate Program Regional rebate program offering 20 separate rebates to homeowners, property owners, contractors, and builders for water-saving devices. Program goal is to save up to 3.8 million gallons of water per day by 2030 through improved water use efficiency.
• Water Conservation and Protection Grant Program Grant program offering $50,000 in grant money annually to community groups, nonprofits, schools, and universities for projects that conserve water and protect regional drinking water sources. Grants range from $2,000 to $10,000.
• Water Shortage Mitigation Plan Regional supply management system with water shortage stages (Phase 1 through Phase 3 Extreme) that govern water restrictions and conservation requirements based on drought conditions and reservoir levels.
• C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir Storage

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced groundwater withdrawals by nearly 50% to support environmental recovery
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Southwest Florida Water Management DistrictcoreOthers · 28 June 2026The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is the regulatory authority that issues water use permits and sets watering restrictions. The District extended Modified Phase III 'Extreme' Water Shortage restrictions for West Central Florida through October 1, 2026. Tampa Bay Water coordinates with the District on water supply management and permit compliance.
• U.S. Water-AccionacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 May 2026U.S. Water-Acciona is the operating partner for the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant. Through this ongoing partnership, the companies are completing the Reverse Osmosis (RO) Trains Project, a $15.5 million investment to restore the plant's design capacity to approximately 28 million gallons per day.
• University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026UF/IFAS Extension is a partner in the Tampa Bay Community Water Wise Awards program. Extension staff evaluate landscapes based on criteria including retention of existing trees, landscape design, plant selection, stormwater runoff prevention, efficient irrigation, and aesthetic appeal. Also partner for Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program.
• Florida-Friendly Landscaping ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program (FFL) is a partner in the Tampa Bay Community Water Wise Awards. FFL was designed to help residents create and maintain beautiful yards using research-based, environmentally sustainable landscaping practices including efficient watering, appropriate fertilizing, and responsible pest management.
• CDM SmithcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 4 March 2026CDM Smith is a key partner in the $181 million expansion of the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant through a public-private partnership. The engineering firm is responsible for design and construction oversight of the expansion that will increase treatment capacity by 12.5 million gallons per day by 2028.
• Veolia Water North AmericacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 4 March 2026Veolia Water North America is a partner in the public-private partnership for the $181 million Surface Water Treatment Plant expansion. The company provides water treatment expertise and operational capabilities for the project financed through revenue bonds and state/federal funding.
• Electric & Gas Industries Association Inc. (EGIA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 30 October 2024EGIA administers the Tampa Bay Water Wise rebate program and manages program marketing. Tampa Bay Water's board extended EGIA's contract for $690,459 through 2025. The program has saved 689,623 gallons per day since inception in March 2020.
• Garney CompaniescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 28 October 2024Garney Companies is the contractor for the South Hillsborough Pipeline project. Tampa Bay Water's board approved a $59 million early material procurement proposal with Garney to lock in favorable steel pipe and valve pricing, representing savings of approximately $26 million.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• San Diego County Water Authority: California regional wholesale water agency supplying 24 member agencies across San Diego County. Highly comparable as a multi-source regional wholesaler (imported + local + recycled) selling to municipal purveyors under long-term contracts, with a large CIP and similar public-agency governance model.
• Trinity River Authority of Texas: Texas conservation and reclamation authority providing regional water supply, treatment, and wastewater services to member entities. Comparable wholesale/district structure, public-agency governance, and member-funded model to Tampa Bay Water.
• Central Texas Water Authority: Texas regional water supply corporation delivering wholesale water to rural and suburban member districts. Smaller in scale than Tampa Bay Water but structurally analogous: wholesale-only supplier, member-owned, mixed surface/groundwater supply, public agency governance.
• North Texas Municipal Water District: Regional wholesale water and wastewater provider serving ~80 member cities across 10 North Texas counties. Comparable to Tampa Bay Water in multi-source supply (surface water + reservoir + reuse), wholesale-only service to municipalities, and large ongoing capital program.
• Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority: Florida regional wholesale water supply authority serving Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. Closely comparable to Tampa Bay Water in mandate (regional wholesaler to municipal governments), funding model (member rates), and infrastructure approach (surface water + reservoir + groundwater mix).

Regional players

• Orlando Utilities Commission: Vertically integrated municipal utility owned by the City of Orlando providing water, wastewater, and electric service in Central Florida. Comparable in scale to Tampa Bay Water with similar multi-source supply (groundwater + surface water) and Florida operating context, though direct retail vs. wholesale model differs.
• JEA (Jacksonville Electric Authority): Largest community-owned utility in Florida (Jacksonville), providing water, wastewater, and electric service to ~500,000 accounts. Operates a comparable multi-source Florida water system including aquifer supply and surface water, and serves a similar regulated customer base.

Broad incumbents

• American Water Works Company: Largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in the U.S., serving ~14 million people across 14 states. Comparable in regulated utility economics and multi-source water treatment capability, but operates as a vertically integrated retail/private utility rather than a regional wholesaler.
• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Largest wholesale water supplier in the U.S., serving 26 member agencies across six Southern California counties. Same mandate and multi-source model (State Water Project, Colorado River, storage) but substantially larger scale and more diverse portfolio than Tampa Bay Water.
• Veolia Water North America: Operates and maintains municipal and industrial water/wastewater systems across the U.S. and is a TBW PPP partner on the $181M Surface Water Treatment Plant expansion. Comparable in water-treatment technology stack, P3 operating model, and Florida footprint, though structured as an outsourced operator rather than asset owner.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tampa Bay Water