[doc30]

I was talking to this lady in Odessa, a rural town in the north end of the bay area, where numerous wellfields keep the lakes at unnaturally low levels. She was complaining about the growing population around the city, railing on new development, and generally complaining about everything she could think of.

I also live in the Tampa Bay area. Her concerns of overpumping the well fields is quite sound. The low level of the aquifer in the area is causing sinkholes to open up at a much higher frequency and people are losing their homes becasue of this. The water in the aquifer helps to support the soil above it. Lower the aquifer, lose support and the ground opens up. Her concern regarding development is also well-founded. THe population of FLorida is growing like crazy and growth is everywhere. The big problem is that there is little long-term growth planning. Developers aren's required to expand existing infrastructure when they build huge subdivisions. The result is overcrowded schools and 2 lane rural roads trying to accomodate a commuter-based suburban community. The county and state are left trying to play catch-up. I'm not against development, but a greater effort needs to be made to make sure the infrastructure grows with the development.

[ovrtaxt]

I absolutely agree 100% with everything you said. I was born here and the growth is overwhelming.

But my point was the inability of this raging woman to see anything in an optimistic light, i.e. the desalination plant. She was completely irrational. I live on a lake, and I see daily the effects of groundwater pumping. Hopefully, this plant will make a difference.