Florida Agencies Join Desalination Coalition

U.S. Desalination Coalition Stretches Coast to Coast

Washington, D.C. June 12, 2003 ... Four of Florida's largest water agencies have become members of the U.S. Desalination Coalition, a group formed earlier this year to advocate for a significantly increased federal role in encouraging desalination. The Florida agencies are the South Florida Water Management District based in West Palm Beach, the St. Johns River Water Management District based in Palakta, the South West Florida Water Management District and Tampa Bay Water, both of which are headquartered in the Tampa Bay area.

"As we begin to educate Members of Congress and others about the vital role desalination can play in addressing the nation's long term water supply needs, having these Florida agencies actively involved will amplify our voice considerably," said Bernie Rhinerson, in welcoming the new members to the Coalition. Mr. Rhinerson is the Chairman of the U.S. Desalination Coalition and also serves as the Chairman of the San Diego County Water Authority in California. "I think it is particularly significant that Tampa Bay Water has joined our group given the fact that it recently began operating the largest seawater desalination facility ever built in the United States."

Henry Dean, the Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District, said "We look forward to working with water management professionals from California and elsewhere in making people aware of the vital role that desalination can play in addressing the long term water supply challenges posed by drought, increasing population, and growing environmental demands."

The U.S. Desalination Coalition currently consists of eight water agencies and one investor owned water utility that operate in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Florida. According to the Coalition's Executive Director, Hal Furman, the group is in the process of developing a new legislative initiative aimed at providing financial incentives and grants for the development of both seawater and brackish groundwater desalination facilities. The Coalition intends to unveil its proposed initiative later this summer in meetings with Members of Congress and the Administration.

Furman, a senior official in the Reagan Interior Department, said "We sense a strong appetite for new legislation on the part of a large, bi-partisan group of Congressmen and Senators who see desalination as a means of addressing a number of long standing water conflicts."