Issues - Water Supply: Tampa Bay
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Utility Must Meet Growing Demand
By MIKE SALINERO AND NEIL JOHNSON The Tampa Tribune Published: Mar 6, 2007 http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGBZN8HXXYE.html
TAMPA - Bob Minthorn gets angry every time the county tells him and thousands of other Hillsborough homeowners to limit lawn watering to once a week.
He is certain there would be enough water if the county stopped approving all of the housing developments that come before the county commission for approval.
"What happened is we're still building development after development," Minthorn said.
But the prospect of slowing development to save water seems unlikely in the Tampa Bay area, even with a state law requiring local governments to factor water availability into the approval process.
In fact, since the law's passage two years ago, Hillsborough and Pasco counties have approved developments that will consume nearly 6 million gallons of water every day, a 10 percent increase over the daily rate in 2005.
Those approvals employ a circular logic that could be considered comical if such a precious resource weren't at stake.
When considering new developments, local officials turn to their regional utility, Tampa Bay Water, for assurances there will be enough water. Tampa Bay Water is obligated contractually to supply whatever amount of water local governments request.
"I don't think anybody with a lick of common sense would say that's the proper way to plan for water, especially when it's clear we have more people than water," said Linda Young, southeast director of the Clean Water Network, a Tallahassee-based environmental group.
"There's no 'No' button here," Young said.
Law Focuses On Supply
Some state and local water officials say it's wrong to link watering restrictions and development approvals.
(For full story go to: http://www.tbo.com/news/nationworld/MGBZN8HXXYE.html)