Water Bills May Rise as New Florida Plant Price Soars to $300 Million
Apr 24, 2024
https://www.newsweek.com/water-bills-rise-new-florida-treatment-plant-riviera-contamination-1893382
Some Florida residents could see their water and wastewater bills jump in the near future as Riviera Beach City Council members consider a new water treatment plant that could cost up to $300 million.
The news in Riviera comes as municipalities across the nation have recently considered an increase in water bills for a variety of reasons, ranging from new nano-filtration systems to reduce the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, to less water storage in reservoirs because of damaged dams. Albuquerque, New Mexico, is considering raising water and sewer bills to cover an increase in fuel, power and chemical costs.
The $300 million cost comes as a surprise to Riviera Beach city officials and residents, although the latter have expressed their fury regarding the state of the city's water. Last June, water in a Riviera Beach well tested positive for E. coli—a bacterium that normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals. Ingesting E. coli can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting.