In 2003, Tampa Bay's $160 million desalination plant was scheduled to open in Apollo Beach. It was slated to become the nation's largest desalination facility taking in salt water from the Bay and converting it to drinkable water for West Central Florida. 

Now, after years of delays and litigation, the plant is expected to come on-line in late 2006. We'll take a look at what happened and we'll explore how desalination will factor into the future of water for our region. Listen now.

Our guests include:

• Joe Dysard, a consultant for Tampa Bay Water and senior director for the management consulting and engineering firm R.W. Beck 

• Mark Farrell, President and Principal Engineer of the engineering consulting firm, Water Resource Associates. Farrell was formerly the Assistant Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District

• Neil Johnson, a reporter for the Tampa Tribune who has written about water issues and the environment for many years.

Join Robin Sussingham for Florida Matters, Friday, March 24th, at 6:30 pm and Saturday, March 25th, at Noon on WUSF 89.7, Your NPR Station.

Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Desalination Plan in Apollo Beach

Water District OKs $85 Million For Desalination Plant
(by Neil Johnson/Tampa Tribune)

$18 Million Proposed For Desal Settlement (by Neil Johnson/Tampa Tribune)

Shared Infrastructure Benefits Desalination Economics (by Nikolay Voutchkov)

Water Resources Associates

Florida Matters is WUSF 89.7's newest forum that goes beyond the daily headlines and explores issues that matter to you and your community. 

Florida Matters addresses critical issues identified by listeners in our Ascertainment Survey 2005. The top five issues that matter most to you are: education, transportation, growth management, environment and affordable housing. Hear directly from decision makers, experts and other concerned citizens. Our purpose is not only to stimulate conversation, but to advance the discussion.

Learn more about WUSF's Ascertainment Survey 2005.
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