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Tampa Bay Water moves into new headquarters

The agency found it could net $3.2-million if it owned, rather than rented, its facility.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published September 3, 2005

CLEARWATER - The agency that likely supplied the water you pour into your coffeemaker has moved into its new administration building.

The $7.1-million, 36,000-square-foot facility at 2575 Enterprise Drive is the new headquarters for Tampa Bay Water.

"We designed it, and we're very happy with it," said Paula Dye, chief environmental planner with Tampa Bay Water. "Owning in the long run is better financially. It just made sense."

For two decades, the organization that provides 170-million gallons of wholesale water per day to Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties and the cities of St. Petersburg, New Port Richey and Tampa had leased an office at 2535 Landmark Drive in Clearwater for $459,000 a year in rent and $25,000 in property taxes and building maintenance.

The board of directors realized it could net $3.2-million if it owned an office building rather than sign a new 20-year lease on its old building.

So the agency decided to build new accommodations for its 60 employees. Officials considered 16 sites, including one in Oldsmar but settled on the Clearwater site because of its more central location.

The board paid $1.3-million for 4 acres on the east side of Enterprise Road between Countryside Boulevard and Main Street. Construction started in March 2004.

One acre, however, was left untouched. Tampa Bay Water plans to use it to demonstrate irrigation techniques to landscaping companies.

The agency collects surface water from the Alafia and Hillsborough rivers and the Tampa bypass canal, which is used to direct flood water away from the city.

Almost all municipalities in Pinellas rely on the agency for their water, either directly or by purchasing a portion of their water supply through the county. The exception is Dunedin, which gets 100 percent of its water from wells.

Eileen Schulte can be reached at 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com

[Last modified September 3, 2005, 01:20:24]