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Commission approves Polk Regional Water Cooperative booster pump station to bolster emergency supply
Summary
The commission approved a county-initiated conditional use to co-locate a 500,000-gallon booster pump station on an existing utility site to support Polk Regional Water Cooperative emergency interconnects; staff emphasized its critical role for pump operations during emergencies.
The Polk County Planning Commission approved LDCU 2025-19, a county‑initiated conditional use permitting a booster pump station and 500,000‑gallon ground storage tank intended to serve as an emergency interconnect among Bartow, Lakeland and Polk County service areas.
Ian Nance (S2) presented the staff report, describing the site near County Road 540 A and Bartow Highway and noting that staff "recommends approval" because the facility is compatible with surrounding uses and will serve a critical purpose in emergency pump operations. Eric DeHaven (S12), executive director of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, introduced himself and offered to answer questions about the cooperative's role in the region's alternative water-supply network.
No members of the public registered opposition at the hearing. After a brief period for questions, the commission moved to approve the conditional use and recorded unanimous roll-call support. The facility is intended to run with minimal on-site staffing and to provide redundancy in emergency conditions; the county and PRWC will proceed with the usual permitting and site development steps required under the land-development code.
