by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
According to City Council member Sharon Copeland, local well protection policies may have created an unforeseen conflict and she wants to be the one to fix it.
As mandated by the State nearly a decade ago, every Florida municipality was instructed to develop and implement its own well head ( the source of a spring or stream) safety guidelines. In Duval County, land cannot be converted for well field use if it is located within a few hundred feet of a facility that contains various chemicals.
Until recently, that wasn’t an issue. However, Copeland said a recent recommendation made by the St. Johns River Water Management District, has called into question the validity of that rule.
“They’re saying we need to start developing more well fields so we’re not having to pump our existing wells so hard,” said Copeland. “If you continue to do that for an extended period of time, you run the risk of running into several potential problems, including salt water intrusion.
“We need to be able to purchase land, especially on the Southside, so we can develop more well fields, but it’s virtually impossible to do that with some of the rules in place right now. It’s like we’ve created our own Catch 22.”
Land near the Mayo Clinic on San Pablo Road was previously considered as a possible well site, but Copeland said plans to move forward there stalled after it was discovered chemicals inside the clinic failed to meet local safety standards.
“It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense because some of the chemicals they’ve targeted as harmful are as common as fertilizers or can be found at a dry cleaners,” she said. “And on top of that, they’re well contained inside the building, nowhere near the well head, itself.
“They way it’s written, it’s like we can’t build anywhere. The scientific facts won’t back that rule up and we’re no better off because of it. In fact, publicly maintained well fields are, in a lot of cases, much safer than private wells.”
Copeland said she plans to assemble a Council subcommittee in an effort to scrutinize, and possibly revise, local provisions.
Already signed on are Council members Lake Ray and Lynette Self, and Copeland said representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection and the scientific community have been contacted and will likely participate.
“I think it will be really interesting when we start looking at the current scientific data and research that has been done since the local policy was put into place,” she said. “With that, I’m hoping we’ll be able to make a sound judgment and then start figuring out a better way to determine what is and isn’t safe.”
Copeland met with Mayor John Peyton’s office last week to informed them of her plans and has already garnered their support.
“Obviously, we’re pleased Councilwoman Copeland is being proactive on water related issues,” said Susie Wiles, Peyton’s chief of communications. “We admire her efforts to try to modernize the City’s approach to water management and well protection, which will continue to be important in Florida as we enter the new year. It’s not only appropriate, it’s welcome.”
Barring complications, Copeland said the well protection subcommittee should conclude its work by spring and legislation will be introduced shortly after.
“By 120 days, I think I’ll have something to bring to the floor,” she said. “The rules should be working with the community, not against it.”