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Water woes threaten plan for new homes

Pressure problems prompt the County Commission to delay the approval of a Seven Hills project.

By DAN DeWITT
Published June 9, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - The recurring problem of low water pressure in Spring Hill threatened to undermine what seemed to be a routine request on Wednesday: Seven Hills asked to build 49 houses on land long zoned for residential use.

"We're not done correcting water pressure problems at Seven Hills, so why add to the problem," said Commissioner Chris Kingsley.

Kingsley introduced a motion at Wednesday's County Commission meeting to deny approval of the master plan for a 20-acre section of the development, which was originally approved in the 1980s.

Commissioner Nancy Robinson seconded the motion, which was defeated. The commission then voted to postpone approval of the master plan until July.

The actions raised doubts about the ability of the county's Utilities Department to serve future development in the area, though department director Kay Adams said the small number of new homes in Seven Hills would not significantly affect water pressure in Seven Hills; she also said the county is making progress on improving the flow of water to the area, Kingsley said.

The county has spent $3.2-million to add four wells, pumps and a storage tank in Spring Hill, Adams said earlier this year. But the main obstacle to service is a lack of adequate lines to Seven Hills, Kingsley said.

Don Lacey of Coastal Engineering Associates, which represented Seven Hills, said he believed adequate water was available for the houses. Most of the commissioners just wanted more assurance of that, and more information about the long-term plans to improve service in the area, he said.

The Spring Hill utility system, which the county began operating in 2003, has long been plagued with water pressure problems, especially during dry months, and Adams has said the problems could be solved by more careful irrigation of lawns.

This year, for the first time, the county imposed higher rates for the biggest water users during the time of year when groundwater levels are usually lowest - from March 1 through the end of June.

--Dan DeWitt can be reached at 352 754-6116 or dewitt@sptimes.com

[Last modified June 9, 2005, 01:18:10]