During one of the worst droughts in the Tampa Bay region’s history, hundreds of houses used more than a gallon of water a minute.
During the first five months of 2017, the 13,000-square foot house used 1.2 million gallons of water, more than any other residence in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater or unincorporated Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
The Tampa Bay Times asked Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater for their top 100 residential users of potable water — meaning suitable for drinking — from Jan. 1 through the end of May, when rainfall was especially sparse.
Tampa Bay saw just over six inches of rain during those months, less than half the average.
At 1.14 million gallons, Straz’s house was the second-highest user during those months.
But we’re not surveying water usage at people’s homes."
In Tampa, 78 topped that figure.
But after conservation, using reclaimed water is better than using potable water.
The property used 435,366 gallons of water for the first five months, but most of that was reclaimed.
Among potable water users, Murman’s house is not in the top 100.