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Lawmaker would have Pasco keep its water
By SAUNDRA AMRHEIN, Times Staff Writer
LAND O'LAKES -- A proposal by Tampa Bay Water to pump more water out of Pasco County might never get off the ground if legislation by a Brooksville representative is successful. State Rep. Dave Russell said Thursday during a meeting of Pasco's legislative delegation that he planned to introduce a bill this session that would scuttle such a deal. The deal in question is a plan by Tampa Bay Water to buy the unused portion of Southwest Florida Water Management District water permits from Pasco landowners. But critics say overpumping by regional water provider Tampa Bay Water in the past damaged land around the Wesley Chapel well fields. And in a 1999 court document, the agency admitted "pumping of groundwater may cause or contribute in varying degrees to a variety of effects in and around the Cypress Creek well field." The Pasco County Commission has railed against the recent plan. During a break in the delegation meeting, Russell said his proposed legislation will tackle numerous water issues, including Tampa Bay Water's plan. Addressing the permits, it will "not enable them to transport water off the site of usage." "My legislation will spell out and reinforce existing language that says you can't (take water off that property)," said Russell, a Republican. The issue arose during the delegation meeting at the School Board's offices when state Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, expressed his concerns to a Swiftmud official there to ask for state funds for an unrelated program. Fasano asked Rand Baldwin to relay concerns to his Swiftmud co-workers regarding Tampa Bay Water's idea. Fasano said he also was disturbed by proposals involving a group of entrepreneurs called the Water Group, which wants to unite water permit holders and Dade City in a consortium that would sell water to Tampa Bay Water, with a cut of the profit going to the city. He does not want water turned into a commodity sold for profit. "This is a dangerous situation for Pasco County and others that might be affected," Fasano said. Tampa Bay Water spokeswoman Michelle Robinson said the idea to purchase excess permitted water was part of the agency's long-range plans to find new water sources. Though she couldn't comment on Russell's proposed legislation that has not yet been filed, she said the plans might never go anywhere. "It's something we see as a long shot anyway," she said.
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