On the Radio
When the rare overnight freeze moves into the Bay area, farmers typically turn on the sprinklers and blanket their crops with an insulating layer of ice. In the short term, that doesn’t usually cause significant problems. But after 11 days of freezing temperatures, all the watering depleted the state’s underground aquifer and led to dry wells for hundreds of homeowners and dozens of sinkholes that have damaged homes and closed roads. This week, we’ll talk about how we balance the interests of agriculture and people when it comes to the state’s water resources.
Program Schedule
Related Stories |
Radio Guests
Dave MooreExecutive Director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District
Jerry SeeberGeneral Manager of Tampa Bay Water
Audio extras |
For more information
If you are having problems with your well as a result of the drop in water levels in the aquifer, call the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s complaint line at 1-800-836-0797.
Share
Program
What's your take?
- Login or register to post comments
Email this page
Comments
Wells Run Dry in Strawberry Country
Hello,
My name is Judy. I live in Magnolia, Delaware. I read your article and I understand fully. For the past 3 summers we have went without water. The first 2 years we thought it was our problem with the well. We changed the burned up pumps and the 2nd year another pump and finally Oct 28th my husband blew the well and ran another line down the well. We thought all was good.
I decided to start a small business myself with real life plants (since I had a small greenhouse). I got my Lic. in April and bought my plants and by June 20, 2009 I notice my clothes washers that does not require a lot of water was acting up. I did not think much of it at the time. We did hear the farmers irrigation pump running night and day even in the rain.
By July 4, 2009 we had water problems. July 8, 2009 DNREC finally made it out here and we had 8 inches of water in a 100 foot well. This farmer did not have a permit to use this well since 2006, but was still using it.
We had lost a lot of money, talked to a lot of people, lost all my plants for my business and personal plants as well. Both my husband and I are on medication and myself I am supposed to drink a lot of water due to my salt intake. I myself lost over 30 lbs and my husband 20 lbs. I called it the JJ diet.
Nobody seemed to care. We went to lawyers here and in Wilmington and talked to the representatives of the state, but they just go in circles. And the lawyers do not want to touch it. It sucks to be without water from June/July to Oct/ Sept. It can mess with your mind.
The farmer made money on his crop with our water for the last 3 years and it has cost us dearly. I tried to get the newspaper and local news involved , but with no reply back from them. DNREC has tried to help us now because they know they are in the wrong:
1) by letting this farmer pump water without a permit for the passed 4 years
2) pumping water over the road as high as the telephone poles
3) diesel pump leaking oil and fuel
4) hole in 8 inch water pipe (hazard, pipe could peel/blow apart) spraying water everywhere
5) well installed without inspection
Today we were suppose to have a talk with the farmer and the lawyer from DNREC. There is to be a hearing on the 28 of Jan. (which was supposed to be on the 4th of Jan.) The farmer did not answer the phone. I do not know what our out come is going to be. I hope it is not going to be a crazy out of my mind summer again. Good Luck To You All. It's supposed to be warm down there. I'll be praying for you all.
Thanks For Listening,
Judy R. Kibler
[Received via e-mail from Judy Kibler. Posted by Florida Matters staff.]
RADIO SHOW @ GROWERS USING WATER
Dear Sirs,
I just heard your broadcast and I admit I did not hear the whole program but I would like to make two observations. First of all water is not meant to be used to keep crops from freezing. There are other methods.
We have two to four freezes every year and if you have use our resources to keep your crop from freezing then you need to move your crops south. I lost many plants in my yard and believe me I will not try to re-grow them here.
The growers actions have caused easily over a million dollars worth of damage to peoples wells, their homes, and our roads. I believe their collective insurance companies should be liable and pay the personal claims as well as the bills to fix the roads.
Second, I am a certified cave diver and have been in many of the underground cave systems in Florida otherwise known as the aquifer. I really wonder who was consulted before the decision was reached to pour 80 truckloads of cement or grout into a hole over 80 feet deep to fix a sinkhole.
What that accomplished was to create a dam underground and just like above ground the water then backed up and went around the obstruction and caused a sinkhole on Alexander and the east bound offramp of Branch Forbes road. As a consumer of water and a well owner, I cannot even water my grass or wash my car when we are on restrictions.
I cannot believe that SW Florida Water Mgt allowed this wrongful and damaging use of water and the subsequent damage to the aquifer.
[Received via e-mail from Bobby. Posted by Florida Matters staff.]