July 14, 2021

At its Monday, July 12, 2021, monthly meeting, the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District Board members considered piping water from Chiefland through Otter Creek.

The idea, proffered individually by two Cedar Key commissioners to CKWSD General Manager Chad Wisdom, was offered the CKWSD Board Monday evening.   Both commissioners have years of water experience, both persons serving as Governing Members of the Suwannee River Water Management District.  The SRWMD oversees water distribution for one fifth of the state . The idea is to import better quality water rather than drilling for it in an area that requires more heavily treatment at the Cedar Key facilities.

Currently, and for years now, the CKWSD has been concerned about water quality in Cedar Key and has tried to address it.  Many solutions and pilot tests have been attempted.  Resultantly, part of the members’ plan is to build a new water treatment plant.  Costs mentioned were initially five million dollars and are currently being discussed at 12.5 million.

The idea of piping water from Otter Creek was received well by some and not so well by others at the meeting.  One CKWSD Board member was distressed that the suggestion had not come to the board before now.  Another thought it a good suggestion to investigate; two others agreed.  An audience member stated his belief that the suggestion should have come to the Board instead of the General Manager.

Ultimately, the CKWSD members agreed to investigate the piping suggestion while not pausing on their current plans to build a new water treatment plant.