The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a water use permit that will allow Oldsmar to withdraw an average of 2.7 million gallons per day of brackish ground water to meet its needs.
Under the previous permit, the City purchased water from St. Petersburg and Pinellas County Utilities to supply all of its potable water demand.
This water permit allows Oldsmar to continue purchasing water until the treatment facility is permitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and constructed. The City will desalinate the brackish water to make it drinkable.
Brackish ground water is defined as ground water having a total dissolved solids concentration that exceeds drinking water standards but is less than seawater.
Oldsmar must obtain authorization from the FDEP for the disposal of the treatment facility’s discharge water. If the project is determined to be infeasible, the City will have to modify the permit to remove the brackish water demands and continue purchasing its potable water supply.