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Crestview Restricts Water Use: Rapid Growth Strains Hub City's Ability to Meet Demand in Face of Long-Running Drought

Posted on: Friday, 23 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Jill Nolin, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach

Jun. 23--CRESTVIEW -- The low water level in the city's 500,000-gallon storage tank triggered its automated system to send out two warnings on Thursday and prompted city officials to ban outdoor water use.

The prohibition is the fourth and most restrictive conservation measure issued in two months for the city's 8,252 water customers.

"Sustaining our lives and providing fire protection for our homes is more important than our lawns," said Wayne Steele, the city's assistant director of public services, who called the current water situation "critical."

"If people do not adhere to our request, if they're found to be in violation of this water restriction, then we will take whatever measure necessary to prohibit them from using water."

That could mean a fine. The City Council would have to decide that because city ordinances do not address such fines.

"If people will listen to our request, it will take care of the problem through this drought," Steele said. In addition to the persistent dry spell, Steele attributed the low water levels to the city's growth. The increasing demand has left the city struggling to pump water fast enough to meet the needs. The new restriction also applies to landscapers using city water. The Auburn Water System has also restricted outdoor water use because of the drought and a crippled well. It's a different story in south Okaloosa County. There's no water restriction in sight for county water and sewer customers, which total about 34,000 consumers in unincorporated areas.

"We are at a good capacity," said Kathleen Mignacca, the county's public information officer. "We don't have any concerns with that because we have plenty. Not an abundance, but we're in no danger whatsoever."

Jeff Littrell, the county's water and sewer director, credits the good supply to long-term planning and "painful" rate increases in the late 1990s.

"Bottom line: Okaloosa County took care of our future supply needs in 1998," Littrell said. "We planned ahead."

The county would be willing to offer free short-term help to another water system, but no requests have been made, said Littrell. The interconnections necessary to share water are in place.

Steele said he sees county water as an option only in an emergency.

Okaloosa County has a 30-inch water line running from near Crestview to the south end to supplement south-county wells. But even with the county pumping up to 300,000 gallons a day through the pipe -- which it started doing this week -- it is far from the 3.6 million gallons that it is permitted to take. Previously, the county was taking around 30,000 gallons a day.

"There's no such thing as my water and your water," Littrell said. "All of the water in the state of Florida belongs to the people of Florida. There are no water rights. Period. The water belongs to the people and is totally controlled by the state."

A new well is being dug in Crestview, but customers won't see benefit until late this year.

The city's population has been steadily increasing and is expected to double to 35,000 people by 2010.

"This all (the growth) occurred within the last two years," Steele said. "It's good and it's bad. We like the growth. We want to see the city grow. But how would you prepare yourself for this type of growth?" Daily News Staff Writer Jill Nolin can be reached at 682-5608.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: Northwest Florida Daily News

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