Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) granted the City of Tarpon Springs a permit on 28 January 2011 to build a US$ 45 million reverse-osmosis (RO) water treatment facility.
The pollutant-discharge permit was granted, following a court ruling against a city resident who challenged the granting of the permit. Henry Ross claimed that sealife and their habitat would be adversely affected by RO reject that would be discharged into an industrial canal. City officials expect an appeal.
Ross has also challenged a water use permit issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. A hearing was held in January and a ruling is awaited.
Request for proposal documents have been drawn up by consultant CDM and are to be reviewed by city staff pending completion of the permit hearings process.