Published: November 06, 2009 01:58 pm      

North Florida water under threat again

The Florida Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee has called for the establishment of "a central regulatory commission to oversee Florida's water resources and supply development," according to an interim committee report.

Such a move could involve sending water from the Suwannee River south to appease the growing demands of economic development and to replace dwindling water supplies there.

"A water supply commission could oversee building pipelines and storage tanks 'needed for the storage and distribution of water over a broad geographic areas so as to provide water to and between regional water supply entities,'" the St. Petersburg Times reported Oct. 31, quoting a draft report by the Council of 100, a Tampa-based business group.

According to a 2003 Council report, such a commission "would be comprised of at least seven members, with at least one from each of the five water management districts." The Council's recent draft echoes the sentiments of its 2003 report.

The Senate interim report is more or less in sync with both of those.

The Council has even presented the idea of "a state water czar" -- one who would have full oversight on statewide demands and water supply.

"This would change the whole face of the water management in the state," said Kirk Webster, deputy executive director for the Suwannee River Water Management District. "It would modify the whole management structure."

The Council's 2003 report suggested ways to "ensure an adequate water supply to sustain the environment and accommodate forecasted population growth demands" throughout the state.

That same year, Lee Arnold, the leader of the Council of 100 study group, called the Suwannee River region "the Saudi Arabia of water."

That statement never sat well with Suwannee River Water Management District officials. In fact, Webster says it's simply "inaccurate."

"Once you take into account the needs of our natural water system -- our rivers and springs -- there is no Saudi Arabia-like supply in North Florida."

He said any modifications made to local waterways "could have a detrimental effect depending on changes to the nature system."

The original September 2003 Council report stated that "South Florida consumes 50 percent of the fresh water used in Florida," although that number may have changed. "Current demands for public water supplies in this region are greater than demands for public supplies in 39 individuals states."

The Council concluded that "Florida needs to refocus its management of water supply efforts to sustain the environment and meet forecasted population growth demands."

Webster said the the focus should be more on water conservation, reuse, desalination, and reservoir construction, than on drawing water from North Florida. That's the premise behind the "Local Sources First" law established by state legislators in 1998, which urges counties and cities to exhaust all reasonable possibilities for water within their borders before attempting to get it from somewhere outside their boundaries.

"There's a lot of solutions out there," Webster said. "We could all do a better job of water conservation."

He, and along with the SRWMD governing board, strongly oppose sending water, particularly from the Suwannee, down to south Florida.

"The governing board has consistently been opposed to transfer of water out of this area. That's consistent with the desires of the citizens of the water management district," Webster said.

He, and others, worry about the effects the council's suggestions could have upon the livelihood of North Florida residents.

"A lot of our lifestyle in North Florida is based on our rivers, lakes and streams. Who's going to decide what's fair? That's what they're trying to create with the Council of 100," Webster said.

The Council's latest draft will be the topic of discussion at a Council meeting later this month. In the meantime, local water district leaders remain steadfast, poised and ready for whatever may come flowing their way.