Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Reduced consumption makes more sense

"We're the poster child for developing an alternate water source."

That's what Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority spokesperson Colleen Tagle told a local newspaper upon the opening of the $38 million new desalination plant in Florida City.

I wish that the utility had been the poster child for developing ways to limit demand rather than building expensive and energy-sapping desalination plants to feed our ever-growing consumption of water.

Water is no different from electricity or oil. We can either continue to construct expensive and greenhouse gas generating power plants and water pumping (and filtering) facilities, or we can make a decision to reduce our consumption. Clearly the Aqueduct Authority has chosen its path.

Yes, FKAA has declared water emergencies that no one abides by and for which there is virtually no enforcement. And they have given out some grants for dual-flush toilets and septic-to-cistern conversions. But those have literally been a drop in the bucket.

How about requiring that all lodging facilities -- including short-term rentals -- install water-flow reducing shower heads and faucets? They don't cost much and the water savings are considerable. Most people can't tell the difference.

How about mandating that all new construction includes dual-flush toilets? These toilets work wonderfully well and really conserve water.

How about a tiered rate structure that begins at 2,000 gallons per month and rises for each additional thousand? The Aqueduct Authority does this for large commercial users, so why not for everyone?

These kinds of carrot-and-stick methods work, but voluntary methods do not.

The smiling faces in the press release photos and the positive words about how wonderful this all is never mentioned how much energy -- electric energy -- this desalination process takes. And energy produces climate change-inducing greenhouse gases.

FKAA and the Keys are going in the wrong direction.

Michael Welber

Marathon

Marathon must treat all residents the same

According to the newspapers, the city of Marathon and Keys RV are close to setting their lawsuit. The information published was that the city was going into Keys RV, on their private roads, install the sewer lines, and maintain the new sewer lines and the park's treatment plant. The base monthly fee sewer is $36; however, Keys RV will only pay $22. What will be the hook-up fee for each EDU in Keys RV?.

Now, if this in fact comes to fruition, many of the property owners in the city are going to ask the City Council, "What about me?"

Be very careful you don't set a precedent of changing the guidelines and thus encouraging additional lawsuits.

We are sure the Marathon City Council will make the best decision for all of the property owners in Marathon.

Max and Jeri Sears

Marathon

City cannot discuss settlement negotiations

Recently an article appeared in a local newspaper that has caused considerable controversy regarding the ongoing litigation and possible settlement between the city of Marathon and Key RV. The information reported was not an accurate representation of the settlement negotiations between the city and Key RV. The city was contacted prior to the article being published, but due to the ongoing settlement discussions could not comment directly as to specific details other than to say progress was being made to resolve the issue.

As of this writing, there is still not an approved settlement and therefore any discussion of the negotiations remains inappropriate. The city is vigorously contesting the claims Key RV has alleged. However, the city continues to make a good-faith effort to resolve the litigation as it may be in the best interest of all citizens to minimize the city's potential risk and expense associated with protracted litigation. In the event a settlement regarding the wastewater assessment is negotiated and recommended to the City Council for approval, it will be consistent with the city's existing assessment methodology.

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify the record.

Peter Rosasco

Finance director, city of Marathon