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Port Richey Turns On Faucet In Wellfield

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By CHRISTIAN M. WADE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 28, 2008

PORT RICHEY - PORT RICHEY - After decades of relying on its larger and more prosperous neighbor for much of its drinking water, this tiny waterfront city has declared aquatic independence.

This week, Port Richey officials turned on four new wells, effectively marking the end of the city's long reliance on New Port Richey for nearly 40 percent of its drinking water.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has given the city a green light to begin pumping from the wellfield, located on city-owned property off Bandura Drive.

Utility Supervisor Patrick Stewart said the wells are more than enough to meet demand.

"It's been a long time coming," he said Thursday. "This is a big step for the city."

Combined with the three existing wells at the city's water treatment plant behind city hall, the utility system is capable of pumping more than 1.2 million gallons a day to residents.

Mayor Richard Rober said the new wells will keep costs from rising at a time when many private companies and county and city governments are being forced to increase rates.

"We're keeping operating costs down and saving city residents money," he said.

Rober, who owns a private utility, said water still will be available from New Port Richey if the city needs it; but, unlike in years past, the city wouldn't be totally dependent on its neighbor.

"We won't have to rely on them if we don't want to," he said. "That's a big difference."

Much of New Port Richey's water comes from regional provider Tampa Bay Water. In the past, Port Richey officials have criticized the company for marking up bulk water prices.

Port Richey residents consume nearly 1 million gallons a day, on average. The price of the water Port Richey buys fluctuates but amounts to more than $400,000 annually.

A recent study from engineering firm U.S. Water Services warned city officials not to terminate its contract with New Port Richey. In a report, the consulting firm said the new wells "will not be able to meet future water demand" based on growth projections.

So, as a safeguard, the city decided to renew the contract with New Port Richey but will reduce its buy from 400,000 gallons to 100,000 gallons a day.

Port Richey's wellfield project came with a hefty price tag.

The city borrowed $3.3 million to cover the cost of excavating the wells, building storage tanks and adding transmission lines to the water treatment plant behind city hall.

So far, they have spent about $1.7 million of that on the wellfield project.

City officials originally had predicted that the city's 3,200 population would double by 2009, one of the reasons they began searching for new sources of water. But with the real estate downturn and several housing projects on hold, that's no longer a concern.

"The reality is that, if we need it, we're well positioned for more growth," Rober said.

Reporter Christian M. Wade can be reached at (727) 815-1082 or cwade@tampatrib.com.

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