TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

A Real Mystery

ADVERTISEMENT

THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: February 12, 2008

The situation surrounding the city of Port Richey's drinking water distribution systems seems to be going from bad to worse. But don't take our word for it. Just ask Richard Reade, the recently arrived city manager. "Everyday we're uncovering more and more leaks," Reade told The Tampa Tribune this week. As things stand now, just what is causing the growing problem is a "mystery," Reade said.

City crews have been trying to figure out what's going on since City Attorney James Mathieu, during his time as interim city manager, discovered that nearly 25 percent of the water passing through the city's mains was going missing.

Mayor Richard Rober, who runs a private utility, says leaks in water distribution systems are common, but a loss of the magnitude Port Richey is experiencing is not.

The city has its own well field but has to buy about 40 percent of its potable water from neighbor New Port Richey. In a bid for water independence, Port Richey is planning to bring on line another well field. Before it does so, however, it should concentrate on curing as much of the leakage problem as possible. Lost water is lost water, regardless of the source.

Then city officials need to find out how things got in such bad shape in the first place. That is the real mystery.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT