Critics say 'Water Storage' bill more about water supply for farming and development

Chad Gillis
Fort Myers News-Press

Critics say a water bill that would more than double the number of aquifer storage and recovery wells in the Sunshine State is more about water supply for farming and development than storage. 

Senate Bill 94, or Water Storage North of Lake Okeechobee, was proposed by Sen. Jason Brodeur (R-Lake Mary), who represents Volusia and part of Seminole counties. 

The bill analysis says the technology offers a way to store large volumes of water beneath a relatively small footprint. 

Environmental groups say they're a waste of time and money and could divert funds that could otherwise be spent on Everglades restoration infrastructure.

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"This ASR thing, it’s a water supply project and it’s a gigantic amount of money that should be used to procure agriculture lands that could be reconverted to wetlands," said Matthew Schwartz, with South Florida Wildlands Association. 

First used in Florida in 1983, there are about 30 ASR operations in Florida working with around 100 wells, according to the bill. 

ASR is achieved by drilling a hole several thousand feet beneath the ground, pumping water down to that level and then retrieving it again when needed. 

It sounds like a relatively easy way to store massive volumes of water, and much of the water for the Everglades restoration was tied early on to ASR wells. 

Three hundred and thirty-three ASR facilities were originally designed into Everglades restoration plans to provide the volume of water needed to restore historic flows. 

But there have been concerns raised by scientists and others about the ability to retrieve water once it's pumped below ground. 

Groundwater levels have dropped nearly 7 feet in Lee County over the past 20 years, according to data recorded by the United States Geological Survey. Some coastal cities are moving from freshwater aquifers that provide relatively inexpensive water to much deeper, brackish aquifers that often cost billions to build and operate.

"Will they actually be able to draw this water out," Schwartz said rhetorically. "I think of it as a waste of money, and the focus is on water supply, not wetlands." 

A 2015 review suggested the number should be closer to 131 ASR wells, with 80 of those being around the rim of Lake Okeechobee. 

"The (Environment and Natural Resources) committee agreed with the findings of the Regional Study that no 'fatal flaws' exist, but stated that uncertainties remain that merit additional study before large-scale ASR implementation," the March 2 analysis of the bill reads. "The committee concluded that phased implementation of ASR would provide opportunities to address uncertainties while providing early restoration benefits." 

The 80 wells at 5 million gallons per day will store 448,000 acre-feet per year, according to the analysis.

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Mark McNeal has worked in the ASR industry since 1985 and is the owner of ASR us,  a consulting company and a member of the Florida Groundwater Association. 

"What we're trying to do is capture the water and store it prior to it entering Lake Okeechobee," McNeal said. "That's the importance of the 80 wells north of the lake is to try to grab this water before it gets to the lake because much of this water has elevated phosphorus and nitrogen levels." 

David Pyne is a civil engineer and owner of ASR Systems.

He testified in front of a Senate committee last month on behalf of the Florida Engineering Society and American Council of Engineering Companies. 

"The bill adds a little more pressure on the agencies, particularly the water management district, to move along the ASR program at the north end of Lake Okeechobee," he said. "The ASR is what we presented to the Senate committee that it would be 1 to 2 feet of storage off Lake Okeechobee every year." 

He said the wells, when properly designed and constructed, can insure that water quality standards are met when water from the wells is retrieved and released.

Pyne said the six-year timeframe was doable from an industry perspective. 

"It's moving very rapidly," he said. "They've released the first four of these that are now moving forward. I'm glad to see it's on a very aggressive schedule, and to get 80 of these in by that timeline will take a very focused effort." 

Daniel Andrews with Captains for Clean Water said he'd like to see an economic feasibility study for the ASR wells. 

"Ecologically, it risks fresh water if you’re pumping all that water down there and it has heavy metals and salts (in the deeper aquifers) and you put it back in fresh water without treating it, that could cause ecological consequences," he said.

Connect with this reporter: @ChadEugene on Twitter.