The county will provide subdivision’s drinking water to Utilities Inc. of Florida, which will continue to run Summertree’s system.

NEW PORT RICHEY – Pasco officials have set a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the changeover from wells to county-supplied drinking water for the Summertree subdivision.

The Summertree development consists of more than 900 private residences in northwest Pasco County. The development’s potable water supply is provided through groundwater supply wells, which are owned and operated by Utilities Inc. of Florida.

Serious concerns by citizens regarding the quality of water produced and distributed by Utilities Inc. of Florida, prompted local community and elected leaders to create a path for the interconnection of the Pasco County drinking water system to the Utilities Inc. system. The completion of the interconnection means that Pasco County Utilities will supply all drinking water to the Summertree residents through a water service agreement with Utilities Inc. Utilities Inc. will still own, operate and maintain the system; however, the wells will be placed permanently off-line and will not supply drinking water to residents in the subdivision.

The $1 million project was made possible through funding from the Florida Legislature in the 2015 state budget. Local community activist and Summertree resident, Ann Marie Ryan, county Commissioner Jack Mariano, Florida Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and state Rep.Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, were all instrumental in the success of the project.

“My goal was to make this connection happen before Christmas,” said Flip Mellinger, assistant county administrator for utilities. “I was happy to tell the county commissioners this week we will make that connection happen in time.”

The ribbon cutting is at 10 a.m. Thursday (Dec. 22) at 12005 Paradise Pointe Way, New Port Richey.

For more about Pasco County utilities, go to pascocountyfl.net.

Pasco County | Summertree Subdivision | Drinking Water | New Port Richey | TB Reporter

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