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In response to customer complaints, the Office of Public Counsel hires a USF researcher to audit its quality.
By MATTHEW WAITE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 22, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY -- A University of South Florida engineering professor has been hired by the Florida Office of Public Counsel to audit Aloha Utilities' water quality.
Professor Audrey Levine, who specializes in water quality research, was hired by Jack Shreve's office on Tuesday to perform the audit, state Sen. Mike Fasano said. Fasano, a customer and frequent critic of the utility, said Aloha's customers asked for the independent audit.
"Aloha says there's not a problem," said Fasano, R-New Port Richey. "I think the first thing is to recognize there is a problem."
Aloha customers, about 9,000 residents in the Seven Springs and Aloha Gardens area of southwest Pasco, have long complained that black, filthy water comes out of their taps. Residents have brought jars of the black water to Public Service Commission meetings on Aloha rate increase requests.
Aloha has long argued that the problem comes from copper piping inside customers' homes and therefore isn't the utility's problem.
Aloha president Steve Watford could not be reached for comment. Aloha isn't part of the audit.
The audit wasn't ordered by the PSC, which regulates private water utilities in Florida. Fasano said the PSC was uncomfortable with sponsoring an audit.
Levine likely will not have access to Aloha property and will have to rely on what comes out of customers' taps.
Fasano said that the study is being paid for through Shreve's office, but that the cost is yet to be finalized because it is not clear how long the project will take. Fasano said the impact of the audit, if any, also is unclear.
"It's as binding as the Public Service Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection allow it to be," Fasano said. "If we can come up with a problem and a solution . . . and show the Public Service Commission, it's all worth it."
-- Matthew Waite can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6247 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6247. His e-mail address is waite@sptimes.com .