Tampa Bay Water s Regional Drinking Water System and Environmental Resource Management Challenges American Water Resources Association 2016 Annual Conference November 16, 2016 R. McConnell, Tampa Bay Water
Session Overview Regional drinking water system and environmental resource management challenges Use of conceptual models and special studies in compliance monitoring frameworks (R. Woithe) Importance of model based assessments for compliance and resource protection (M. Wessel) Linking watershed and estuarine monitoring for integrated resource management (D. Robison)
Presentation Overview Regional drinking water system and integrated water resources management Different supply source types and environmental concerns Surface water withdrawals and monitoring program overview (for next speakers) Resource management challenges regulatory programs
Regional Drinking Water System Florida Special District Water Authority Member Governments Hillsborough County Pasco County Pinellas County New Port Richey St. Petersburg Tampa Drinking Water Sources Groundwater wellfields Seawater desalination Surface water/reservoir ~160 mgd Average Daily Demand Seasonal Range ~150 to 200 mgd
Meeting Current & Future Water Supply Needs Reservoir Operations Model Desalination Supply Ground Water Supply Demand Forecasting Models Conservation Programs Surface Water Flow Forecasting Models Surface Water Supply Drought Mitigation Plan System Needs & Production Schedule OROP (WEEKLY) City of Ta mpa System System Hydraulic Modeling Tra nsmission Water Quality Model To Member Government Connection Points Future Supply Activities Long term demand forecasting Water & energy conservation Climate variability Rainfall, river flows, sea level rise Florida water & climate alliance Water utility climate alliance Integrated surface-groundwater model Long term master water plan Alternative sources Direct/indirect potable reuse Anticipating regulatory changes SDWA, MFLs, WUPs, WQS, TMDLs Source water quality/treatment Multiple source types/blending Water Research Foundation, AWWA Source water assessment/protection
Regional Supply System Environmental Considerations Groundwater Wellfields - Wetlands & Lakes Effects of past/current/future changes in water levels (water use permits & MFLs) Seawater Desalination - Tampa Bay Effects of RO concentrate discharges on bay water quality and biology (discharge permit & water quality standards) Surface Withdrawals - Rivers and Canals Effects of changes in flows on water quality and biology (water use permits & MFLs)
Impact Monitoring & Recovery Wellfield Lakes and Wetlands Wellfield environmental management plans Water levels WAP plant zone shifts Aerial imagery Wildlife Optimized regional operations plan Weekly distribution of groundwater pumping based on hydrologic conditions Wetland recovery assessment Monitor 530 lakes & wetlands Additional wetlands in defined area Augmentation, flow restoration Example: Cypress Creek Wetland W-17 (1999, 2015) Example: Starkey Wetland S-18 (2000, 2015)
Environmental Concerns Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Re-diluted RO concentrate discharge (through TECO Power Plant canal) Bay water quality/salinity circulation/mixing stratification/flushing Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Facility Discharge-related studies hydrodynamic models: far-field, near-field biological assessments toxicity tests
Monitoring/Assessment Criteria Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Water quality and biological monitoring Water quality continuous & bimonthly sampling Fixed and stratified Benthic invertebrates Fish and seagrass data TECO Big Bend Power Plant Florida water quality & diversity standards 2002-2016 monitoring: No significant impacts for Bay salinity, benthos, fish, seagrass
Surface Water Withdrawals Alafia River Hillsborough River Tampa Bypas s Canal Alafia River Water Supply Facility Un-impounded flashy river system Withdrawals just upstream of tidally influenced zone Minimum environmental flows (Florida MFLs) established WUP preserves high & low flows, flow regime: withdrawal 10% above baseline flow (128 cfs), max 60 mgd cfs Tampa Bay Desal Facility
Surface Water Withdrawals Tampa Bypass Canal, Hillsborough River Blue Sink Sulphur Springs Morris Bridge Sink Minimum flows (MFLs) established Tampa Bypass Canal - flood control City of Tampa Reservoir above HR dam Stage- or flow-based withdrawal schedules Tampa Bay Water withdrawals 258 mgd
Withdrawal Impact Monitoring Areas TBC/Palm River, McKay Bay Alafia River Hillsborough River
Surface Water Withdrawals Hydrobiological Monitoring Drivers for this Hydrobiological Monitoring Program Stakeholder concerns about withdrawal impacts on estuarine systems Lack of existing ecological & water quality data and criteria Non-numeric performance-based standards (no adverse impacts) Very different waterbodies and needed specific assessment methods
Hydrobiological Monitoring Program Stakeholder design & data review Comprehensive monitoring Hydrology, water quality Biota (fish, plankton, benthos, birds) Habitat/vegetation Stratified random design with fixed continuous sites Compliance with District standards (performance-based, no adverse effects) Develop critical indicators/criteria Scientific peer review Special focused studies Cost >$1million/year
HBMP Organization Chart Data Management & QA/QC ESA, Atkins Project Management ESA, Atkins Data Analysis / Reporting ESA, Atkins Janicki Environmental Water Quality Benthic Invertebrates ESA, Atkins Ichthyoplankton / Zooplankton Univ. of South Florida College of Marine Science Adult / Juvenile Fishes Florida Fish & Wildlife Research Institute Aquatic Vegetation ESA, Atkins *Outside Data Sources Benthic Taxonomy Sediment Analysis Terra Environmental Services Mote Marine Laboratory Analytical Chemistry Southern Analytical Benchmark EnviroAnalytical Long-Term Water Quality* & Independent Monitoring Env. Protection Commission of Hillsborough County Seagrass* City of Tampa & Southwest Florida Water Management District Additional participants: TBW Member Governments, Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Agency on Bay Management, Tampa Baywatch, Audubon, USGS, environmental consultants, other interested stakeholders.
HBMP Conceptual Model From ESA 2016 Develop & refine Filling data & knowledge gaps Developing assessment methods & criteria System-specific considerations Focus monitoring objectives: research vs permit compliance Valuable stakeholder communication tool
HBMP Quantitative Tools & Studies HBMP metrics/tools Identification of key withdrawal-related indicators and statistics Statistical models for dissolved oxygen & chlorophyll-a Hydrodynamic models for baseline vs. withdrawal conditions, habitat volume, bottom area; isohaline regression models Trend analyses & periodic interpretive reports HBMP special studies Statistical power analyses for benthic, fish and plankton sampling Relationships between flows, chlorophyll-a, distribution of fish & plankton Bird foraging & benthic prey; oyster & mollusk surveys Improved sampling techniques for chlorophyll-a measurement
HBMP Changes Over Time Input from all HBMP participants & stakeholders Extensive monitoring to document conditions, special biota studies, develop flow/withdrawal assessment tools, monitoring effort reduced where no longer required Independent scientific peer review Downstream withdrawal permit compliance can be affected by upstream or downstream water quality conditions/discharges Additional assessment of watershed & bay drivers
Florida Water Management Programs Water management districts: hydrology Flooding/stormwater management Water supply planning/funding Land management/restoration Environmental resource permitting Consumptive use permitting Environmental flows/mfls Graphic: Conservation Ontario 2009 (A. Gauthier) Dept. of Environmental Protection: water quality Watershed/water quality assessment Land management/acquisition Water/wastewater facility funding Wastewater reuse Drinking water assessment/compliance NPDES discharge permitting Water quality standards, TMDLs Graphic: USEPA 2013 (website)
Resource Management Challenges Regulatory Program Goals Paradigms Water Management Districts minimum flows & levels / allowable withdrawals FDEP designated use types & related water quality standards Environmental resource permits General considerations Wetland/waterbody conditions Beneficial uses Resources of concern Future watershed changes
Resource Management Challenges Program Compliance Requirements Intersection of regulatory programs Consumptive use, MFLs; WQ standards, TMDLs Issues Different goals/standards: performance criteria ( no adverse impacts ) vs. numeric standards Different monitoring & assessment approaches Changes in flows, residence time Effects of upstream discharges, new standards Downstream tidal exchange Common parameters of concern DO, nutrients, algal blooms/chlorophyll
Resource Management Challenges Disconnected Regulatory Programs Minimum Flows & Levels SWFWMD Adequate water levels and/or flows for environmental resources TMDLs FDEP Pollutant discharge load / flow reductions needed to meet water quality standards FDEP Impaired Waters based on exceedance of water quality standards HBMP Compliance Assessment Issues: flows vs water quality, performance vs numeric standards, wbids vs watersheds, upstream vs downstream conditions, bay/tidal influences.
Resource Management Challenges Additional Modeling Tools Refined & expanded available models to address watershed & bay drivers Alafia River Water Supply Facility Example: Alafia River EFDC model Permitted withdrawal baseline & reconstructed scenarios Flows & nutrient loads vs withdrawals Alternative combinations of flows & loads Results Withdrawals did not significantly affect residence times, chlorophyll, bottom DO Water quality influenced by downstream loading, tidal bay exchange Watershed model applications Assess upstream & bay loadings associated with changes & regulatory actions Additional WQ and drinking water parameters
Summary and Future Challenges Integrated systems with different source types can meet demands while minimizing environmental impacts Environmental criteria differences (or lack of criteria) limit holistic management, may increase monitoring effort and cost Climate change issues: infrastructure, water quantity, water quality, ecological Better linkages: water quantity & quality, source water quality, ecological impact monitoring
Questions Contact Robert McConnell Tampa Bay Water Clearwater, Florida rmcconnell@tampabaywater.org www.tampabaywater.org