An overflow crowd showed up Tuesday evening to let the Sumter County Commission know they are opposed to a plan to truck water out of Sumter County for bottling.
So many people showed up, extra chairs had to be hauled into the Parlor Room at Colony Cottage Recreation Center where the commission met.
After commissioners went through their agenda for nearly an hour, Democratic candidate for Congress David Koller tried to jumpstart the process, approaching the podium and calling on commissioners to move ahead and address the water issue. He was declared out of order and escorted out of the meeting by a Sumter County sheriff’s deputy.
Watch video of the meeting here:
Shortly thereafter, the public comment period finally arrived and Villagers lined up at the podium to have their say.
“We ask that the Sumter County Commission stands with the residents of Sumter County,” said Villager Joseph Flynn.
He and others laid out their concerns about the company’s plan.
Villager Sue Azia said she is afraid the area will run out of water “just like California.”
She added she is fearful of sinkholes and a potential decline in property values in the fastest-growing county in Florida.
Others were wary of a 20-year commitment the company wants and the millions of plastic bottles that would be manufactured and disposed of in this endeavor.
According to documents filed for the permit, the well normally would operate 13.3 hours a day and fill 80 trucks with 6,200 gallons each. During peak months, however, the well would operate 24 hours a day, pumping 892,000 gallons and filling 144 trucks.
The water would be sold to Azure Water of Leesburg, which supplies grocery, convenience and other stores with bottled water under brand names such as Niagara. Azure Water estimates its 2025 sales volume will be about 190 million gallons a year.
Commissioners have indicated the water issue is not within their purview.
However, Villagers called on the commission to object to the pumping of water by resolution, letter and or attempt to block it through zoning.
