[banjobob]

I disagree with granting the pumping that amount of water from the aquifer but wonder what the total amount of water in that aquifer is Is the amount being withdrawn significant to affect the total. Also those that live in the area really need to become proactive with their elected officials and phone write or visit them to voice their concerns.

[biker1]

The cost of 10000 gallons of water in The Villages varies by where you live and whether it is potable or irrigation water (for those farther south in The Villages). 10000 gallons of irrigation water in my CDD would run about $26. 10000 gallons of potable water would run about $35 plus $50 for sewer (you pay twice for potable water since the assumption is it goes down the drains and must be treated). Irrigation water is reclaimed water.

Originally Posted by pauld315

Why is it so high ? My wife and I use under 4000 gallons a month in hot NC. 10000 gallons a month here would cost about 165 a month. I have rain barrels that I bought from the town attached to my gutter system. i use that water to water my plants instead of using our sprinkler system.

[Happy Gardener]

Although SWFWMD has approved a permit for SWR Properties of Ocala to pump 496,000 gallons of water a day for 20 years and ship it to Leesburg for bottling, Sumter County Board of Commissioners controls zoning in Sumter County. Besides sinking a 10-inch-wide well, SWR Properties plans to build a pumping station, driveway and modular office building on its property. located just east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 301 and County Road 470. Eighty 6,200-gallon trucks per day on average and 144 trucks in a peak month would carry the water to Azure Bottling Co in Leesburg. Sumter County Board of Commissioners will meet JUNE 28TH, 5:00 PM at Colony Cottage Rec Center on hwy 466-A in The Villages.

[debow]

Originally Posted by Warren Kiefer

Sorry, I meant daily.

500,000 gallons per day equates to 2,000,000 16 ounce bottles per day. Some one is making a great deal on money at the expense of our most precious natural resource. Shame on those state officials.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by debow

500,000 gallons per day equates to 2,000,000 16 ounce bottles per day. Some one is making a great deal on money at the expense of our most precious natural resource. Shame on those state officials.

4,000,000

[debow]

Originally Posted by blueash

4,000,000

You're correct and I'm a retired engineer. LOL.

[stujake]

The amounts you state are daily, not annually. The potential problem is much greater than you can imagine. Think potential for sinkholes caused by accelerated water movement below ground.

[maddie101]

PROTECT OUR WATER
******* CALL T0 ACTION*******

As you know, Protect our Water has been working to prevent approval of a permit to withdraw almost a half million gallons of water a day, for the next 20 years, from the upper Floridan Aquifer. The purpose of the permit request is to drill a well, pump the water, and then sell the water back to the public.

We were notified on June 8th 2016, after the fact, that Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) approved this permit request.

Because the location of the proposed pumping station is in Sumter County (approximately 7 miles from The Villages), the Sumter County Board of County Commissioners and various County offices, also have a role to play. New zoning requests as well as building permits will be presented to the county for approval. They can vote to deny these permits.

Many of you have submitted letters to SWFWMD stating your concerns, have signed petitions, attended meetings to learn more about the implications of the permit and indicated your desire to become more involved.
NOW IS THE TIME!

THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL MEET JUNE 28TH, 5:00 PM AT COLONY COTTAGE RECREATION CENTER.
ATTENDEES WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ABOUT THIS ISSUE DURING THE COMMENT PHASE OF THE MEETING.

Please join us there. Come early to assure seating. If you would like to speak briefly, say for about 2 minutes, bring a copy of your comments to give to the press, who will be in attendance. But it certainly isn�t necessary that you speak. Your presence will be your voice. Either way, it�s important we continue to make our opposition known.

Questions? Email ProtectOurWaterFlorida@gmail.com or visit Protect Our Water - Koller 2016 . See you June 28th!
Copyright � 2016 Protect Our Water, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
P.O. Box 3683
Ocala, FL 34478

Background

The Spring Water Resources of Ocala is the company that has filed a permit application with the state Water Use Permit Bureau to pump water from Fern Spring and an unnamed spring east of CR 470 and north of U.S. 301 in Sumter County. The water would be sold to Azure Water of Leesburg, whose clients include Consolidated Water Group, Publix, Niagara Bottling Co., DS Water and Nestle Water. It has potential effect to our homes in The Villages ( water table, sink holes, etc). A pumping station, loading driveway and office building would be built on the 10.5-acre property, which is owned by Spring Water Resources.

On an average day, the well operation would operate 13.3 hours, filling 80 trucks with 6,200 gallons each. But during peak months, the well would operate 24 hours a day, pumping 892,000 gallons a day and filling 144 trucks, according to permit application documents.

[manaboutown]

That is a lot of truck traffic both fouling the air and ruining the pavement because large loaded water trucks are heavy.

[rubicon]

Voters had a legal opportunity in 2010 to vote to have some say in such things but passed up the opportunity. Florida does have a sunshine law. However pols get around that puppy by having the meeting and than the MEETING. I suspect Florida reps showing up at Colony will display empathy, concern, understanding and then move forward with plans to expand Azure capacity to draw even more water. Paint me jaded but when it comes to gov't want supercedes right

[Leone Gentner]

Go to ProtectOurWaterFlorida@gmail.com for information about the movement to fight the sale of our water. The Sumter County Board of County Commissioners meet @5:00 PM June 28th at Colony Cottage Recreation Center. Come join us there to voice your concerns. In any case your presence will be your voice. The press will be in attendance, so a large turnout will speak volumes.

[justjim]

Let's face the fact that Florida is definitely "pro business" and from all view points it's safe to say the majority of residents agree. Look who was elected Governor and look at the Legislature. Approval of this bottled water business venture is not a surprise.

Will this approval cause more sinkholes or will we run out of water in The Villages? That is what we elect our Officials to decide. I believe a couple of the Sumter County commissioners live in The Villages. We will see if this project is permitted.

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by outlaw

Don't take this the wrong way, but.....how can you justify wasting that much water! Please get your house in order before you claim the high moral ground. If you need that much water for your lot, you need to change your lot to a zero scape lot. TV allows this type of landscaping, and even encourages it. Do something where you can make a difference and set an example for your neighbors.

I expected an objection of some type. I usually respond when I get parented. My home came with 42 sprinkler heads, we cannot go to "zero scape" landscaping, we are required to maintain a certain percentage of grass. 4/9ths of my required lawn maintenance actually is not owned by me, the 4/9ths is the setback and right of way that I am required to water. I once got a notification that my lawn was not in acceptable condition and needed attention. The attention was water !!! My house is in wonderful condition.

[Warren Kiefer]

Originally Posted by banjobob

I disagree with granting the pumping that amount of water from the aquifer but wonder what the total amount of water in that aquifer is Is the amount being withdrawn significant to affect the total. Also those that live in the area really need to become proactive with their elected officials and phone write or visit them to voice their concerns.

If the available amount of water is unlimited and it has been determined that this company taking up to a million gallon per day will not affect the supply, why are we usually on a water usage restriction ??? I agree that far too many times elected officials seem to forget who they actually represent.

[stadalberts]

Originally Posted by Warren Kiefer

Apparently even though I have heard nothing but opposition to allowing a bottling company to bottle and sell our spring water, the Southwest Water management district plans to approve the permit request. How is it that we are placed on water restrictions and then the SWMD decides to let Azure pump between 500,000 and 1,000,000 gallons of spring water yearly from Sumter County ?? And to give that company a 20 year contract !!!

Let's face it, SOMEONE SOMEWHERE is going to make a Sh** load of $$$$$ over this situation. THAT'S why it will go through.