Back in the 1990s, most of the Tampa Bay area got its drinking water supply from groundwater. The result: dried up lakes and parched wetlands. Now, state and regional water authorities are close to an agreement to prevent overpumping of groundwater well into the future. ...more

October 9, 2008

Customers of Aloha Utilities Inc. could see some relief in the coming months from the smelly, black water that has fouled their sinks and stained their bathtubs. ...more

October 8, 2008

water that has fouled their sinks and stained their bath tubs. Pasco County commissioners Tuesday approved the sale of Aloha – a private water supplier whose customers say its water and customer service both stink – to the Florida Government Utility Authority, a public group created to buy private utilities across the state. "This was a banner day," said Commissioner Ann Hildebrand, who represents southwest Pasco. Aloha has about 20,000 customers in the Seven Springs and Aloha Gardens sections of Hildebrand's district. Under the deal now pending with Aloha, FGUA will spend $90.5 million to buy the company – a $45 million reduction from Aloha's original asking price. The sale will become final Dec. 17. New rates will take effect the same day, said FGUA attorney Brian Armstrong. ...more

October 7, 2008

Below-average rainfall and low river levels have forced authorities to start pumping water out of the C.W. "Bill" Young Reservoir six months earlier than usual. Tampa Bay Water, the regional water supplier, said today that rainfall totals in the area were 80 percent below normal in September. Flow rates in the Hillsborough and Alafia rivers were 81 and 85 percent, respectively, below average. ...more

October 7, 2008

If this quintet of clueless bobblehead dolls had their way, the Nobel Peace Prize would be named after Pol Pot, the Pulitzers after Clifford Irving, the MacArthur genius grants after Archie Bunker. ...more

October 4, 2008

Once-a-week watering restrictions will continue for at least five more months. ...more

October 1, 2008

Regional water authorities are expected today to extend once-a-week watering restrictions through February. ...more

September 30, 2008

September has been the hottest month I can remember in 14 years of fishing Tampa Bay. ...more

September 24, 2008