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Punta Gorda: drought tightens water supply; permits, Peace River rights limit new withdrawals
Summary
Utilities staff reported low reservoir levels, drought conditions across Charlotte County, elevated total dissolved solids tied to Shell Creek and regulatory limits on additional well withdrawals as they assess future supply options.
Punta Gorda utilities staff told the advisory board on May 19 that the city’s water supply is constrained by regional drought, chemical concentration in source creeks and regulatory limits on new groundwater withdrawals.
Utilities Director Tom Spencer said April production averaged 7.4 million gallons per day, with a peak day at 8.4 million gallons, and the reservoir level measured 5.12 feet on May 1 and 5.2 feet on May 19. Spencer said April rainfall totaled 0.27 inches versus a historical April average of 2.52 inches, citing drought.gov data that shows 100 percent of Charlotte County in drought and 45 percent of the county in extreme drought conditions.
“Right now, the block 2 allows us to withdraw 11,730,000 gallons per day,” Spencer said; combined surface-water and RO production capacity is about the same. Staff also said the city’s surface-water sources are Shell Creek and Prairie Creek and that the Peace River has exclusive withdrawal rights under current regional allocations.
On sourcing constraints: staff explained that permits for withdrawals are issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and that any effort to obtain Peace River water would require coordination with the Peace River Regional Water Supply Authority and likely other regional entities. Spencer said additional wells on city-owned property have been vetted and could be constructed, but the water management district is discouraging new groundwater withdrawals to protect aquifer recharge and is favoring surface-water solutions.
Spencer also described elevated total dissolved solids (TDS) in Shell Creek — “the primary source of the TDS is coming from Shell Creek” — and said seasonal concentration rises as the water table drops. Staff noted agricultural runoff is a possible contributor but said the district’s long-running “farms program” has helped large operators retain and reuse runoff to reduce nutrient loads entering city supplies.
Why it matters: drought and source-water chemistry affect treatment, water rates and long-term capital planning; the board discussed options such as additional wells, RO expansion and surface-water sourcing but noted regulatory and infrastructure hurdles.
Next steps: staff said they will pursue RO expansion funding, continue hydrobiological monitoring required by the water-use permit, and include sourcing options in the utilities master-plan work for the upcoming budget cycle.
