Brandon Urban Dispersed Wells Public Input

Public Input

Public input was an important part of the Brandon project from the start. Many different parties have a direct interest in the groundwater resources of the Brandon area, including homeowners, the agricultural community, Hillsborough County, SWFWMD and others.

Throughout this project, Tampa Bay Water held a number of meetings to ensure the community had an opportunity to discuss its concerns. Seven advertised public meetings were held from 1997 to 1999:

February 17, 1997
July 9, 1997
November 18, 1997
March 10, 1998 (part of Master Water Plan Meeting)
October 15, 1998 (part of Master Water Plan Meeting)
October 20, 1998 (part of Master Water Plan Meeting)
February 4, 1999

In addition, numerous small group meetings were held with homeowners and civic association leaders. Presentations on this project were made before many groups, including:

Florida Strawberry Growers Association
Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners
Brandon Rotary
Brandon Sertoma
Brandon Lions Club
Brandon Kiwanis Club
Brandon Chamber of Commerce
Riverview Masons High Twelve Club
Brandon Homeowner Association Leadership
Greater Thonotosassa Civic Association
Timberpond Homeowners Association
Erin Arbor Homeowners Association
Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Federation
Cargill Fertilizer
Hillsborough County Agriculture Economic Development
Southwest Florida Water Management District

Surveys were distributed to gather input on the aesthetics of the well houses. Mail updates were sent to the community.

Here are some of the ways the project was changed, based on public input:

The agricultural community asked if we would site our wells outside the most intense agricultural area. We were happy to comply and at their request sited the wells to the west of Valrico Road.
Residents had concerns about two of the seven original well sites specified. Tampa Bay Water agreed during arbitration discussions to reduce the number of sites to five that were acceptable to the County and the public.
Public input on the aesthetics of the well houses ensured the facilities will fit the neighborhood.
Residents with private wells were concerned about the effect on their own water supplies and about the possibility of sinkholes. Arbitration discussions led to a mitigation programs that provide a high level of protection for property owners.