Letters to the Editors

Low water pressure ideas need research

Editor: Re: The water pressure mystery.

Spring Hill is having a low water-pressure problem in certain locations. Florida Water Services cannot come up with an answer about what can be causing this sudden decline in water pressure. If this condition never happened before in Hernando County, then we don't have to look back too much to deduct (assume) that it is not a mechanical problem, and it is not that Florida Water is causing the problem on purpose in order to have a better bargaining chip with the county, as some people suggested.

There could be several reasons for the water pressure problem. First, the increase of building at a tremendous pace has made water levels drop. Now we have a Wal-Mart Supercenter, a new Lowe's and Home Depot, three new Eckerd pharmacies, two new Walgreens, Outback, Golden Corral, the carwash, three new golf courses and so on. And on top of that, there are several new stores planned. Add to this small list the new affordable housing projects.

Reason number two: There has been a drought in Hernando for three years. Our water deposits are protected by a natural layer of limestone. If it doesn't rain enough, the limestone could crack and cause lots of problems, including but not excluding the shifting of waters from under Hernando to another location. The Indians relocated often because of shifting water from one location to another. This leaves Hernando at the mercy of Mother Nature.

The existing water wells may have a lot of silt and other deposits that may clog up the water pipes and water pumps in the wells. The problem may get worse if we agree to all this new construction that is planned for Spring Hill. A lot of young families with two, three and five kids are moving into the area. Soon we may have to look for alternative sources for water, such as desalination.

As a last alternative, when I need to wash my car, I will take it to the levee, and I hope that the levee is not dry. But seriously, investigate the idea that the water wells may have shifted, or that there is too much silt at the bottom.
-- Luis B. Rosario, Spring Hill

County needs, deserves, its own heart surgery center

Editor: Many of us moved here years ago when this area was still a very small community of 50,000 or so people.

We had to have our heart problems resolved at Tampa General Hospital. As our community grew larger, we sent our heart surgery patients to Bayonet Point in Pasco County. Unbelievable as it sounds, our small community is one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States.

We will continue to grow in population. The necessity of our own heart surgical unit is NOW.

My question is next time my family and friends need heart surgery, will we have our own facility to depend on? And, if not, why not?
-- Al and Joan Benzer, Brooksville

Letter writer was off base on affordable housing issue

Editor: I am writing in regard to the letter of Lee Bennett.

There are people in this county that are neither stupid nor lazy who would benefit from affordable housing. There are mothers working two jobs to support children.

Lee Bennett may want to write to the domestic court, which allows deadbeat dads to go free and be behind in child support more than six months.

Not paying support is saying your child isn't worth it. It is not revenge against mothers.
-- J. Marsh, Spring Hill

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