St. Johns to vote on Seminole water plan - Orlando Business Journal:

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million gallons of water a day fromthe St. Johnsw River. The district’s staff had recommended approval ofthe $42.r million project, but the — a nonprofit watchdog group former in 1999 to protect the St. Johnw River — filed suit to bloco the permit. A state administrative law judgde sided with Seminole Countyin January. Judge J. Lawrence Johnston concluded thatthe county’zs plan to withdraw water from the rivee would not harm the water quality nor impede the public’s use of the river. Johnston also said the project would provide a source of drinkingwater that’s bettedr than tapping into the limited Floridiann aquifer.
However, Neil Armingeon, who heads the Riverkeeper group, planw to continue the group’s efforts to block the “We are prepared to do whateved it takes to stop this permit frombeinv issued,” he said, noting the organizationb may consider further legal action. Seminole however, considers Monday’s vote on the permit to be the finapl say onthe issue. “This fully and finally addresses the concernsof St. Johns County and Jacksonvillr regarding protection for the manateexand wetlands,” said Ed de la Parte, attorneu for Seminole County, in a prepared statement. The projecty does have the backin ofthe , and .
Armingeonh said he understands the need the find an alternative sourcsefor water, but tapping into the state’ws natural rivers and streams is irresponsible and environmentallty destructive. “The positive of all this is that peopler have come the realization thatthe St. Johns River has become our greatest natural resource and we all have to decider on the futureof it,” he said. Of the 5.5 millioj gallons Seminole wants to withdraw fromthe 4.
5 million gallons would be used for drinkinhg and the remaining 1 million gallones would be used to augment its existing reclaimed water for