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Speakers urge charter language to protect drinking water and resilience from sea-level rise
Summary
Dr. Wendy Anderson proposed adding minimum environmental-protection language to the county charter covering water privatization, source prioritization, gray-water reuse and PFAS cleanup; a separate speaker raised enforcement and resiliency concerns.
Dr. Wendy Anderson of DeLand asked the Charter Review Commission to add minimum environmental-protection language to Article 2, Section 202.4 of the Volusia County charter to ensure safe drinking water and to address resiliency needs.
Anderson offered five elements for inclusion: never privatize potable-water sourcing, treatment or distribution; do not ban any potential water source as supplies strain; prioritize the cleanest sources for personal potable uses while limiting their use for landscape irrigation when supplies are scarce; allow reuse of gray water for nonpotable uses such as irrigation and toilet flushing; and not defer cleanup of known contaminants such as PFAS to postponed federal action. "Water is and always should be a public good in Volusia County," Anderson said.
John Baker of DeBary separately told commissioners he believes the county is not strictly enforcing minimum environmental-protection standards and that the charter lacks resiliency language related to sea-level rise. The chair asked Anderson to leave written notes for staff and reminded the public that written submissions will be included in the Oct. 13 agenda packet for commissioners to review.
No commission action was taken at the listening session; staff said it will include written comments and summaries in the next meeting packet.
