The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday modified two water use permits (WUPs) for Marion County Utilities to meet projected increases in water use. Both permits are achieving a per capita rate of 150 gallons per person per day.
Marion Oaks
The Marion Oaks WUP combines and modifies two public supply permits and increases the permitted quantities. The 91-acre Marion Oaks service area is approximately eight miles southwest of Ocala. The previous annual average permitted quantity was 1.704 million gallons of water per day (mgd.) The new permitted quantity is 3.2 mgd, which is an increase of 1.496 mgd. The increase is based on projected population growth. The permit removes recreational quantities currently included in one of the permits. The recreational quantity will be issued under a separate permit. The permit expires Sept. 25, 2013.
Quail Meadows
The Quail Meadows WUP combines and modifies two public supply permits and increases the permitted quantities. The 725-acre Quail Meadows service area is northwest of the intersection of U.S. 27 and Interstate 75. The previous annual average permitted quantity was 647,300 gallons of water per day (gpd.) The new permitted quantity is 660,600 gpd, which is an increase of 13,300 gpd. The permit expires Sept. 25, 2014.
As part of both permits, the county must investigate the feasibility of reuse water and other alternative water supplies. The county must also submit required reports, which include monthly meter readings, wellfield water levels, water quality information and water conservation measures.