Email stirs up debate over Pinellas County water supply

A controversial email has put a spotlight on the debate over water rights in Pinellas County.

Pinellas County Commission hopeful Tom Rask sent an email to nearly every resident in the county that reads “Your drinking water is endangered.”  Read the full text of the email.

“It’s very important when you send out an email that you get people to open the email," said Rask, who is challenging Commissioner John Morroni in the District 6 primary this August. “There were literally dozens of people who said, 'You gotta get the word out, you gotta get the facts out on this issue.'"

Rask said the email is a response to the potential sale of a water-rich piece of land Pinellas owns in Pasco County.

Tampa Bay Water manages the wells on the property. That’s also the entity that makes sure residents have enough water.

Rask said the land is just too valuable to sell, especially if Tampa Bay Water someday evaporates.

“It assures water self-reliance and water independence for the future,” he said.

Current Commissioner Janet Long called Rask's email a scare tactic.

“People will say outrageous things to put fear in the hearts and minds of our citizens,” she said.

Commissioner Ken Welch also weighed in on the controversy on his Facebook page, saying a proposed sale "will not affect our local water supply."  Read his full statement.

Pinellas County officials though told Bay News 9 the county uses far more water than can be pumped from that one piece of land in Pasco.

If the county wanted to pump more than the current level being taken from that property, it would have to get a special permit from the Southwest Florida Management District.

Long said that shouldn’t be an issue. She said whether Pinellas owns the land or not its water needs will be taken care of.

“Our drinking water is not at risk and that there isn’t anybody on the County Commission that would take any action that would put our drinking water at risk,” said Long.

Long said the Pinellas County Commission is waiting on more information before deciding to sell the property to Pasco County.

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Complete text of Rask's email

ALERT - Your Drinking Water Is Endangered !

Pinellas County Commission Considers Sale of Our Water Source

With no notice and no public input, Pinellas County is now seeking to sell our drinking water source. The drinking water wells are located on 12,500 acres in Pasco County, and were acquired for good reason during the so-called "water wars" in decades past. Commissioner Janet Long recently and suddenly changed her mind on this critical issue, and joined Commissioners Ken Welch, Susan Latvala and Charlie Justice in seeking to sell our land.

Proponents of the sale say that the cash is needed, but such a one-time infusion of limited spending dollars is not sustainable, and will not solve our on-going fiscal challenges. The income is literally a drop in the bucket, and for that we would lose control over our drinking water supply.

Some have claimed that we don't need this 12,500 acre water source because we have an agreement with the regional water authority (Tampa Bay Water). However, the 24-year water war between Florida, Georgia and Alabama shows that water agreements are not worth the paper they are written on. This 24-year water war goes on to this day!

History shows that our county must retain drinking water independence and self-reliance ! We simply cannot make future generations dependent on a third-party vendor for drinking water.

CLICK here to contact your County Commissioners

If you agree, please tell the commissioners to not sell the land in Pasco County. Let them know that Pinellas County residents want the ability to remain independent of regional water management, if it ever becomes necessary. Make it clear that you believe that ownership of the land known as the Crossbar / Al Bar Ranch guarantees that Tampa Bay Water will not unreasonably raise rates. Tampa Bay Water knows that Pinellas County can opt out of the agreement at any time should it become economically unfeasible to remain a part of a regional water system.

They may try to tell you that they are only "considering" selling the land, and that all they have done is ask for an appraisal. Don't be fooled - they already know the approximate value of the land, and an appraisal won't change anything. Our drinking water independence should not be for sale !

Drinking water should not be a partisan or politicized issue. I disagree with Commissioner John Morroni on many issues, which is why I decided to run against him this year for County Commission in District 6. I will continue to voice my concerns to voters on the many issues where Commissioner Morroni and I do not see eye to eye, but this sale of our land and water resources in Pasco County is one issue on which Mr. Morroni and I both agree. We are both opposed to it.

Sincerely,

Tom Rask, Pinellas County resident and business owner
Candidate for County Commission, District 6

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Response from Commissioner Ken Welch

Commissioner Ken Welch posted the following on his Facebook page:

Thanks for your email regarding Pinellas County’s Cross Bar and Al Bar properties in Pasco county. I understand and appreciate your concern about Pinellas’ water rights, and the possible sale of the land.

The important point is this – the sale of the land will not affect our local water supply. Since 1998, Pinellas County has been a member of Tampa Bay Water, which owns the water rights to the Pasco well fields, as well as other water resources in the Tampa Bay area. Two Pinellas Commissioners serve on the board of Tampa Bay Water, and Pinellas Commissioner Susan Latvala is the current chair of the Tampa Bay Water Board. For more than a decade, Tampa Bay Water has been our regional water utility, and has invested in water supply resources for the long term. The sale of the Cross Bar / Al Bar properties would not change that water supply model whatsoever.

However if by some unforeseen future circumstance Tampa Bay Water were to cease operations (which no one is suggesting), Pinellas would have the right to reacquire water rights and infrastructure through the dissolution process. I support maintaining those rights through any sale of the lands to Pasco county.

Pinellas has been a thoughtful steward of these lands for decades, and I would only support the sale of this resource if our water supply remains protected, and the lands remain preserved. Pasco county wishes to expand public recreational access and preservation of these lands, and has set aside funds to do so. This is not a sale for “quick cash” as, as some have stated.

I hope this adds some clarity to the discussion of this issue. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.