SWFWMD Open House on New Rules

This in from SWFWMD

Public Open House

August 23, 2011 6:00 pm
Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center
1206 North Park Road, Plant City, FL 33563
www.WaterMatters.org/frost-freeze

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s new water use permitting rules for the Dover/Plant City area took effect in June. These rules affect water use permit holders with crops that require frost/freeze protection. The new rules are one component of the District’s comprehensive freeze management plan, which was developed to significantly reduce impacts from groundwater pumpage during future frost/freeze events.

The District developed the new rules in response to the unprecedented January 2010 freeze event, as well as previous freeze events, which resulted in dry wells and sinkholes. Public input and technical expert and stakeholder participation were a significant part of the rule development process.

The District is hosting a Public Open House where staff will be available to answer individual questions from both homeowners and growers about the new rules and the freeze management plan.
Staff will be on hand to answer questions on various topics, including:
· Well and casing depth requirements for new residential wells
· Reporting dry well complaints
· The new allocation process for investigating and assigning dry well complaints
· New metering requirements
· Automatic Meter Reading Devices
· Alternative freeze protection incentives through the FARMS Program
· Water use permit (WUP) applications, renewals and modifications in the Dover/Plant City water use caution area

If you have questions regarding this Public Open House or if you no longer wish to receive information on the Dover/Plant City rule implementation, please contact Carol Lynch by email at Carol.Lynch@WaterMatters.org or by phone at (352) 796-7211, ext. 4336, or via US Mail at SWFWMD-PMO, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604.