Voice of the people: Need for new water is driven by increase in demand

Need for new water is driven by increase in demand

In response to "Lakeland forges ahead with alternative water supply projects," which published March 8 in The Ledger, water is essential. It is not a luxury. Water policymakers have mandated that water supply must be sustainable and not harm water resources or the environment. The burden of meeting this mandate has fallen on public water utilities.

The truth is that meeting this mandate will result in higher water prices because our current source of cheap, clean, easily obtained water is maxed out. The question becomes how high will the cost of water go and who should pay this increase. The need for new, expensive water is driven by an increase in demand, which is caused by population growth. Is it fair to existing residents that they should pay high water prices even though future residents are the sole cause of the problem?

A Lakeland resident currently pays $35.22 a month for using 10,000 gallons. Per the city of Lakeland, new water supply costs will increase fourfold. Does this mean that rates will double? Triple? Does anyone know? Realizing that water supply is a monopoly, shouldn’t residents have an input?

Edward McDonald, Auburndale

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This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Voice of the people: Need for new water is driven by increase in demand