$1.5 million. That’s how much the county is allotting for their recent pilot project, which aims to determine if treated wastewater could be the solution to an increasing need for drinking water in Polk County.
Recent droughts + steady population growth have motivated county officials to think about how to ensure adequate water for its people. As groundwater and surface water sources are strained, leaders are getting creative.
A potential solution? Wastewater.
A 14-month study will take place at the new Cherry Hill Water Production Facility in north Lakeland starting March 2022 to see if wastewater treatment plants can produce suitable drinking water.
So, when can you expect to try a taste? Although the study itself lasts only 14 months, treated wastewater won’t be available to consumers for 8-10 years. It must first undergo strict testing and obtain government approval before it can be distributed for consumption.
Polk County’s potential solution of obtaining potable reuse water would follow in the footsteps of other counties in Florida, as well as Texas, California, Arizona, and others.
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