Water on our Minds

Comment Up

Not only is our most precious resource, water, on the minds of the Lake Worth City Commission, but it is on the minds of our State Legislatures as well. It is also on the minds of our residents--Mr. Timm said at today's commission workshop that he doesn't want government telling him how many showers he is allowed to take.

Right now, Lake Worth supplies water to 48,500 customers with 11,400 of those out of the city. In just a few weeks, our existing Surficial allotment water use permit will expire. The Floridan allotment does not expire for 15-years (January 11, 2026). The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) regulates the City in its withdrawals (that are permitted) of raw water from the Aquifers for production of potable water. We were required and have completed a variable density groundwater model to accurately predict the movement of the saltwater interface. Also, our Reverse Osmosis System will be completed in the 4th quarter of 2012.

This week, Speaker Cannon announced the creation of the House Select Committee on Water Policy, to be chaired by Rep. Trudi Williams (R-Ft. Myers). At a time when water quality criteria proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have polarized legislative discussion about wetlands and water resources, this broadly tasked committee is poised to make some dramatic changes in the way Florida manages our most vital resource.

Florida Audubon Executive Director Eric Draper said, “The Speaker is correct that Florida’s water regulations are in serious need of examination,” noting problems with supply and water quality. After the Speaker's announcement, Audubon pointed out that water policy reform must maintain current protection of freshwater resources such as spring flow, lake levels and the delivery of freshwater to estuaries. Also, water policy must provide for a mechanism to clean up Florida’s impaired waterways with an emphasis on reducing phosphorous pollution of Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.

As always, Audubon will be engaged especially in preserving the public interest standard for wetlands as well as ensuring sufficient water supply for the environment as well as people.

In the Senate, the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee chaired by Sen. Charlie Dean (R-Inverness), heard testimony from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on the EPA’s proposed water quality criteria. Despite comments by DEP staff about the flexibility of the rules, delays to allow staged implementation, and availability of exemptions, testimony from regulated interests and the committee itself blasted the new federal requirements. Concerns largely centered on the economic cost of compliance to businesses and local and state government.

State information submitted by: George Niemann, Dover