House Panel Agrees on Bill to Extend Water Permits Despite Environmental Concerns

A House committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to file a bill that would extend permits from 20 to 30 years for alternative water supply projects.

With Florida facing population growth and increasing competition for groundwater, utility and business groups say new reservoirs and aquifer storage projects are needed to store water during rainy periods. But some environmentalists are concerned about expanding the rights of utilities to use water without public review.

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