WEDGEFIELD, Fla. — Norris Land refuses to drink the water that comes out of his tap, preferring to purchase bottled water, because he says his water is unfit to drink.
“The only thing you can use that water for is to wash your car,” he said. “That’s it.”
The Pluris Water Plant has proposed a rate hike, despite customers’ complaints about water they say is cloudy and smells bad.
“They’re talking about raising (the rate)? Come on, man. Fix it first,” Land said.
Pluris says it has taken steps to improve the quality of the water, including disinfecting it, but customers said the problems remain.
“Sewage. Yup, sewage, that’s what I’ve experienced,” Land said.
John Roja said regardless of what Pluris may have done to improve the water, “the water don’t taste right.”
The proposed rate hike would charge customers $10.07 per 1,000 gallons of water, up from the $8.79 they currently pay.
The Florida Public Service Commission has received at least eight complaints from Wedgefield residents asking that the proposed rate increase be rejected.
“I don’t think it’s right,” Roja said. “The water quality is not that good for increasing the prices like that.
“Get the water right first.”