Message from Commissioner Aaronson

April 4, 2008

In November 1997, I began my monthly message with these words: You have all heard the saying, “Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.”  This statement is totally untrue here in Palm Beach County although recent comments that have been made might have you believe otherwise.  Do we have an adequate supply of water to meet the needs of people, agriculture and the environment?  Yes.  Do we need good planning to insure water availability in the future?  Of course.

What I said more than ten years ago still applies.  Here in Palm Beach County, we have an adequate supply of water.  Just look at the water level in your lakes.  The County’s Water Utilities Department (Water Department) advises that South Florida Water Management District’s (District) online data base shows that for the past five months, an average of 206 million gallons of water per day has been released to the tide.  And yet last December, the District instituted a one-day-a-week watering schedule for residential landscape irrigation “to conserve water supplies.”  As a result of these restrictions, the Water Department is asking the Board of County Commissioners to adopt an Ordinance that would establish a 15% water surcharge.  The surcharge is needed because the Water Department said that they lost more than $6 million since the restrictions were approved in 2007 and they project another $11.4 million loss in the 2008 budget year if the restrictions continue. As restrictions and water use change in the future, we will evaluate our ability to reduce or eliminate the surcharge.

Some of you already realize this Catch 22 situation and have asked me why customers must pay more when they use less water.  It’s a fair question.  My answer is that we must keep the quality of the water and the quality of customer service at the level that you have come to expect.  Water Quality: The Water Department uses the most up-to-date technologies to provide high-quality drinking water.  The Water Department has never been in violation of the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.  In addition the Water Department is constantly improving and upgrading its facilities.   Customer Service: The Water Department’s excellent customer service cannot be debated.  When residents in communities along Hagen Ranch Road experienced unpleasant odors coming from the  Southern Region Water Reclamation facility, the Water Department formed an Odor Control Study Group that includes representatives of the surrounding communities.  Ultimately, the Water Department began a five-year Odor Abatement Project.  When a line was hit while land was being cleared at the intersection of Yamato Rd. &  441 and a sewage spill was imminent, the Water  Department responded within 20 minutes.  I visited the scene about 30 minutes later and there were trucks, equipment and workers everywhere.  There could have been major problems but they were avoided by the Water Department’s quick action. 

What will the 15% surcharge mean for you?  The Water Department advised that the cost will be $3.57 for using 4000 gallons of water per month, $4.26 for 5000 gallons, $4.95 for 6000 gallons and $5.64 for 7000 gallons.  Let me put it in this perspective - if you buy bottled water and reduce your monthly purchase by two or three bottles,  you will cover the cost of the surcharge.

I am very proud of the County’s water supply.  We have clean, pure and safe water to drink.  We have outstanding customer service.  We keep our facilities in good repair.  None of us wants to pay this 15% surcharge.  But all of us realize that we must insure our water supply is kept to the high level that we currently enjoy.