Hillsborough County is in the process of updating the wellhead protection ordinance in order to protect new sources of potable drinking water. New well fields have been constructed, cumulative wellhead pumping rates have changed, and potable drinking water sources now include surface water withdrawals, which are not currently covered by the current ordinance.

The current wellhead protection ordinance was adopted by Hillsborough County in 1992 and was subsequently incorporated in the Hillsborough County Land Development Code (Part 3.05.00). The purpose of the ordinance is to protect the current and proposed water supply sources from contamination. Wellhead Resource Protection Areas (RPAs) that surround public potable water supply wells were delineated on the Hillsborough County Wellhead Resource Protection Map which was approved and adopted by the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners in 1992.

Tampa Bay Water has planned and is constructing several new potable drinking water sources which include the Brandon Urban Wellfield and surface water withdrawals from the Hillsborough River, Tampa Bypass Canal, and Alafia River at Bell Shoals. The objectives of the update to the Ordinance and the Wellhead Resource Protection Map are to analyze the need for protection of these added public supply water wells and surface water withdrawals and prepare any revised or new regulations which may be required to accomplish the desired level of potable water resource protection. A draft of the revisions to the Ordinance was prepared by a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) composed of citizens, environmental groups, regulators, water suppliers, Hillsborough County staff and representatives of agriculture, industry and the development community, as well as geographically based representatives from Keystone, Lutz, Plant City, Riverview and South County.

Wellhead and Surface Water Resource Protection Regulations (Land
Development Code Text Amendment)

Plan Amendment

Board of County Commissioners Report August 20, 2003 ( PDF, 6819KB )

Board of County Commissioners Workshop February 26, 2003 ( PDF, 269KB )

Proposed Changes to the Wellhead Protection Ordinance

Development Review Procedures Manual Basics ( PDF, 9KB )

Wellhead Protection Project Maps

Florida Department of Environmental Protection ( PDF, 1715KB )

Outreach at Public Meetings Planned

As part of the public outreach, local public meetings were held throughout the County. The Northwest County Area had a public meeting on November 12, 2002 at the Austin Davis Library and another meeting on February 5, 2003 at the Keystone Civic Center. The South County Area held a public meeting on December 9, 2002 at the Riverview Civic Center. The Northeast County Area held a public meeting on December 10, 2002 at the Thonotosassa Civic Center. Public comment and feedback on the updates were received at each meeting.

Wellhead Protection Public Meeting Comments

Northwest County Area November 12, 2002 Austin Davis Library

Northwest County Area February 5, 2003 Keystone Civic Center

South County Area December 9, 2002 Riverview Civic Center

Northeast County Area December 10, 2002 Thonotosassa Civic Center

Technical Advisory Committee Continues Its Work