Hillsborough County, Florida — public water systems

How does Hillsborough County compare with other Florida counties?

Hillsborough County has the most active public water systems among the 138 counties listed for active Florida systems in EPA records; among the 71 with 3 or more systems, the median has 41. Its systems report 1,743,513 people served in total, the 3rd-largest county figure in the state and 7.7% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 2,415 people, about 44% below the Florida average of 4,345. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Hillsborough County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Hillsborough County's active systems draw on groundwater (693, 96%), purchased surface water (25, 3.5%), surface water (3, 0.4%) and purchased groundwater (1, 0.1%). Overall, 96% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 3.9% on surface water, compared with 98% and 2.1% across Florida. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, City of Tampa Water Department, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Hillsborough County?

Hillsborough County's active systems break down as 186 community systems (26%), 184 non-transient non-community systems (25%) and 352 transient non-community systems (49%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (90%), local government (6.8%), state government (1.7%) and public/private partnership (1.1%).