Polk County approves nearly $2M contract for new well water supply

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County leaders are looking for ways to keep up with the influx of people moving to the area.

They recently approved a nearly $2-million contract for a new water well supply in the northeast part of the county.

Stepping out into his backyard, Sean Brinkmeier likes to enjoy the scenery, although it might look a little different this time of year.

“I’ve always wanted to live near water, around water, I have for a good portion of my life,” he says.

He’s lived in and around Polk County for several years.

So, he’s seen the growth firsthand and what’s needed for growing communities like his.

“It needs a lot of infrastructure, whether that’s roads, water, power lines all of it, so it’s great to see that they’re investing in this part of Polk County,” he said.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners recently approved a $1.8-million project for a new water supply well in northeast Polk County adjacent to Davenport.

“It’s more of a maintenance type thing, rather than a new water supply,” said Tamara Richardson, the utilities director.

She said the current well in the area isn’t up to par, so they’re creating a new one about a mile away, but she says this is just part of a bigger project to construct an alternative water supply receiving facility.

Richardson said they’ve reached the water pumping limit from the upper level of the Floridan aquifer.

Now, they’re having to find new ways to access water from the lower Floridan aquifer.

She said the northeast part of the county is the fastest growing, and they serve more than 40,000 residential and commercial areas.

“We need this lower Floridan to continue to serve additional growth and to provide more reliability for the northeast for our existing customers,” she says.

Richardson said the new project came with rate increases; according to the county, customers can expect a 6% increase every year over the next six years.

Brinkmeier says he’s excited to see more people calling Polk County home, and he hopes local leaders keep residents in mind as the growth continues.

“Davenport is lagging, Polk County’s lagging but they are showing great steps to get back up and get in front of the growth that’s happening right now,” says Brinkmeier.

It’s a growing community, one which Brinkmeier hopes his family can continue to enjoy for many years to come.

The plans for the construction of the receiving facility are going to be presented for approval on Tuesday at the Polk County Board of Commissioners’ meeting.