Water

Thoughts & Notes from SJRWMD & Cities of

Debary, Deland, Deltona & Orange City & Our County Council on 5-27-09 CC Trng. Center

 I attended the above mentioned meeting to keep abreast of the Water concerns facing S.W. Volusia both now and in the future. What I heard didn’t surprised me. This talk has been going on for years without any concrete progress even after the 100‘s of thousands spent on studies.

I will attempt to lay out a few of the real concerns that everyone of us should be thinking about NOW, (Not in the future) because our elected leaders will be making some monumental decisions in the next few months which could possibly raise YOUR WATER RATES by as much as 350% - 700%. (That’s not a typo) 700% water increases could happen and probably will without the combined study and input from the residents of the parties involved. (If your paying $26.00 per month that means your rate could go to between $91.00 - $182.00 per month and that’s without the sewer charges added on.)

Why is this happening now?

The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) has established a set of conditions that each city must meet before they will approve any additional withdrawal of water from the ground. They are requiring each water supplier to plan on using water from other sources and not to take additional water from the aquifer. In fact they want reductions from our present pumping today. These requirements are a result of actions from our State and spelled out in part by Senate Bill #444.

Are we running out of water?

The SJRWMD has set minimum flows levels for Blue Springs in Orange City (currently 134 -157 cu. ft. per second (cfs)). There is also a desired level that has to be maintained.

Why?

Primarily to provide and protect the habitat for Manatees.

In the handout we received at the meeting it stated that West Volusia Utilities must reduce pumping to approx. 1978 levels. That results in reducing pumping by 30 Million Gallon per day (mgd).

　SJRWMD concludes that the alternative supplies must be obtained to replace the groundwater reductions needed.

They say the need for cold water refuge for the Manatees (Their numbers are increasing) is seasonal but the surface water solutions are constant and permanent and the costs must be accepted. They say conservation cannot meet the needs even with expanded reclaimed water actions

SJRWMD concluded the only way to achieve the desired results are alternative water supplies. (That’s the 350 - 700% increases)

What are the costs to rate payers for surface water?

St John’s water Plant est. cost 300 - 500 million.

What are costs for Ocean withdrawal?

Coquina Coast Plant could cost 1 Billion.

These are but a few of the concerns each of us will face in the coming months. The actions by each city/county must be monitored closely because of the high cost to our residents as outlined in the comments above.

I must add that the Mayors of Debary, Deland and Orange City all attended with Chairman Frank Bruno of the County Council and many other of our elected officials.

Deltona’s Mayor and or Vice Mayor were not in attendance and their absence was noted by many I spoke with after the meeting.

IF ANY OF THESE COMMENTS STRIKE YOU AS A CONCERN PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL AND ASK THAT THEY MAKE W.V. WATER A PRIORITY..

　Demand that we study carefully all options before we commit to the unbelievable cost that are proposed.

Sincerely,John Masiarczyk

Candidate for Mayor