Dispute Over Peace River Water Divide Heading to Settlement

BRADENTON, Fla., Nov. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority, the Polk County Regional Water Cooperative, and the City of Lakeland have reached what participants hope to be agreement on key points to settle the legal dispute which has already cost taxpayers tens of thousands in legal fees. The parties now have 45 days to develop an agreement to work together.

"We believe it is better to invest in water supplies than to litigate over them," said Alan Maio, Sarasota County Commissioner and Chairman of the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority. "While we are committed to defending our permit, we recognize that all communities must have the water they need for their residents and businesses."

Part of the agreement will include a cooperative effort to identify current and future use of the Peace River for water supplies.  

"The District is happy that the parties were able to work together cooperatively and reach an agreement in principle that meets each of their interests and reduces the need for spending tax dollars on expensive litigation," said Brian Armstrong, Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority serves Charlotte, Desoto, Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The Polk Cooperative includes Polk County and 15 municipalities within the county. In May, this year, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the regional water regulator, was poised to issue the water use permit for the Authority when the Cooperative challenged the permit and stopped its issue.

While a permit challenge is an administrative process, both sides prepared for litigation. The Authority budgeted $500,000 while the Cooperative and its members budgeted $375,000. All of these dollars come from people who pay for water in the respective communities served.

For 25 years, the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority has been serving Charlotte, Desoto, Manatee and Sarasota county residents and businesses. This year, that's 26 million gallons of water daily.

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SOURCE Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority

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