A Times Editorial

Swiftmud decision a permit for folly

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 4, 2000

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's recent decision to allow a Sumter County man to use up to 5.4-million gallons of water for a speculative entertainment venture is a waste of two precious commodities: water and credibility.

And officials at Swiftmud, as it is commonly known, have made a bad decision worse by approving this objectionable use during a period of drought, when homeowners and businesses are being limited to watering their lawns one day a week.

The water use permit was obtained by Robbie Graham, a contractor who farms 800 acres in Sumter County about a mile east of the Citrus County border off State Road 44. Graham wants to use up to 167,000 gallons of water a day to fill a quarter-mile-long ditch on his property. (That is in addition to the 322,000 gallons a day he will be allowed to use for agricultural purposes.) Graham plans to fill the ditch up to six times a year and race airboats there. He says he has invested about $100,000 in the project, which he thinks will attract thousands of airboat enthusiasts.

Graham's confidence about the popularity of airboating as a competition displays an admirable entrepreneurial spirit, but it cannot offset the reality that his venture will needlessly draw millions of gallons from the Floridan Aquifer at a time when water is scarce.

Because the permit was first submitted nine months ago, Swiftmud and Graham shrug off criticism that they picked one of the worst possible times -- on the heels of announcing water restrictions -- to issue the approval. It is hypocritical of Swiftmud to force residents to watch their thirsty plants and lawns wilt, while simultaneously authorizing millions of gallons for a recreational pursuit. It further erodes the public's already skeptical confidence in government.

But Swiftmud is guilty of more than bad timing. By defending its decision with the excuse that it does not consider the intended use of water when it issues permits, the agency indicates it has abdicated its responsibility to exercise common sense and fairness toward the majority of its constituency, which covers a sprawling 16-county area. Evaluating applications without differentiating between planned uses, such as recreational, is careless, if not irresponsible.

Now that Swiftmud has given its approval, it has a responsibility to follow up by testing the water levels in wells near the farm, and to estimate as best it can how much of the water Graham pumps makes its way back into the aquifer. The agency should consider stipulating that he not fill the ditch while restrictions are in place.

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