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Water Pipeline Plans Should Help Douse Irrigation Irritations

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By JULIA FERRANTE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 11, 2008

Residents of central and east Pasco's newest neighborhoods may have to wait a few more years for reclaimed water as the county prepares to construct a pump station and pipelines to treat wastewater in Shady Hills.

The county and the Southwest Florida Water Management District will share the estimated $50 million cost of constructing the system, which is slated to come on line in 2012, said Bruce Kennedy, the assistant county administrator for utility services.

Plans call for building pipelines that would bring water from the State Road 52 corridor to parts of Connerton, Wiregrass, Watergrass and Meadow Pointe with no access to reclaimed water. Construction on the system would start next year. New developments at the Bexley, Starkey and Epperson ranches could be added to the system.

"This allows us to continue to meet growing demands of our developments," Kennedy said.

The county already provides reclaimed water for irrigation to about 10,000 customers in New River, Meadow Pointe, Lexington Oaks, Oakstead, Longleaf and Seven Oaks for a fixed rate, Kennedy said. Customers, which include golf courses, schools and agricultural properties, sometimes complain of problems with water pressure. Kennedy attributed those issues to a high demand and overuse of the system.

County officials expect the number of reclaimed water customers to more than triple during the next 20 years.

The county limits lawn watering to twice each week, but many residents do not comply, placing strain on an already taxed system.

"There is no way we can accommodate as much watering as people want," Kennedy said. "We have limits, but people don't follow them. We try to meet with the homeowner associations to educate them, but it's kind of like how there are not enough policemen to catch speeders on the highways. I don't have enough people to keep up with people watering."

A regional reservoir has been constructed in Land O' Lakes to store excess reclaimed water during the rainy season to ensure it is not being wasted. The reservoir is dry now, however, as it is peak watering season, Kennedy said.

Customers now pay a set rate for reclaimed water. That will change as the system is upgraded. Customers eventually will be charged for what they use, Kennedy said.

The water management district, known as Swiftmud, is contributing to the project to help conserve potable water, officials said.
Reclaimed water is treated wastewater. Offering reclaimed water for irrigation reduces the demand on potable water and reduces the need to discharge wastewater effluent to surface waters, according to Swiftmud.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at (813) 948-4220 or

jferrante@tampatrib.com.

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