Swiftmud director offers compromise to end water war

AUBURNDALE — There may be a break in the water war between Polk County and counties to the south.

The executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud) told members of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) on Wednesday that the Polk group could possibly enter into an agreement with Hillsborough County to withdraw its groundwater.

Details, such as the cost of the plan or how long it will take to implement, were unclear. But members of the water cooperative said they are interested.

"If this is a viable, cost-effective solution that results in more water and less cost then it should be investigated," County Commissioner George Lindsey, chairman of the PRWC, said after the meeting. "The consensus is we are willing to talk, however, the details always follow."

Brian Armstrong, the executive director of Swiftmud, said he came to the meeting at the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale to offer an olive branch to Polk.

"I want all parties to stand down on litigation to give us the ability to sit down at the table to work out how we will develop the cost, timing and demand for this project," Armstrong said.

Armstrong's presentation came about a month after an administrative law judge in Tallahassee ruled that Polk's case against Manasota Regional Water Authority could move forward.

The PRWC is attempting to halt the approval of a 50-year permit by Swiftmud for Manasota to more than double the amount of water it could withdraw from 120 million gallons to 258 million gallons per day.

In response to Manasota’s and Swiftmud’s attempt to dismiss the case, Francine Ffolkes, an administrative law judge in Tallahassee, wrote that “the petitioners (Polk County) essentially allege that their present water supply planning activities could be affected by issuance of the water use permit to the (Manasota) Authority.”

“The Petitioners’ allegations, taken as true, do not constitute pure speculation or conjecture,” Ffolkes wrote.

Polk has said that massive withdrawal will impact its long-term plans to increase aquifer recharge in the Peace Creek Basin. That project would involve diverting 5 to 10 million gallons of water a day into mini-reservoirs.

The Polk Regional Water Cooperative represents the county and 15 cities, including Lakeland. Manasota’s water coalition covers Manatee, Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota counties.

Armstrong said during his presentation that Polk could possibly join Hillsborough in a project that would involve injecting reclaimed water into the salt water zone of the aquifer to act as a barrier near the coast in southern Hillsborough County.

That barrier would cause fresh water that is upstream to rise, creating additional supplies. Armstrong said there could be an opportunity for Polk to withdraw some of that water.

Some of the members of PRWC had questions for Armstrong after the presentation. Ed de la Parte, a lawyer for the PRWC, advised that members should ask questions but refrain from any talks of a settlement between the parties.

Polk City Mayor Joe LaCascia said Armstrong was asking the PRWC to set aside important water plans for a verbal presentation that involved a whole new set of projects.

Armstrong said he wasn't asking the group to stop what it is doing.

"What I'm asking the region to do is to take a look at what we are all proposing and negotiate that as a group," Armstrong said.

Bartow City Commissioner Billy Simpson said he appreciated Armstrong's proposal.

"This is something we were hoping for a long time ago," he said. "I think it's something we should consider."

Board members are expected to further discuss the proposal Oct. 8, the next scheduled mediation hearing.

John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588.