Would you drink treated sewer water? Voters to decide

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

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Tampa city council members voted to put a question on next year's ballot asking voters decide if they want to make waste water drinkable.

TAMPA (Bay News 9) -- Tampa City Council members voted to put a question on next year's ballot asking voters to decide if they want to make waste water drinkable.

Councilman Charlie Miranda is all in favor.

"This will solve our situation for water in this area for at least 50 years," Miranda said.

The concept isn't new.

In the 1980s, Tampa initiated a program to treat waste water. The program failed to get support.

Tampa resident Carol Dunn wouldn't mind trying a glass.

"As long as it's proved to be safe, I'd be glad to drink it," Dunn said.

Council woman Linda Saul-Sena is worried about what else might be in the water supply.

"There might be long-term health implications that we haven't truly come to grips with," she said.

It would be an expensive process because a new treatment plant would have to be built.

Miranda estimates it could cost $200 million.

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