Citizen's Group Fights Desalination Plant

"A Tampa citizens'group, Save Our Bay Air and Canals (SOBAC), is challenging a state permit that would allow a planned desalination plant to discharge 19 million gallons of concentrated brine into Tampa Bay daily."A desalination plant that would produce 25 million gallons of water a day is key to Tampa Bay water projects drawn up to reduce wellfield pumping in Hillsborough and Pasco counties and lessen dependence on groundwater. The brine will not harm Tampa Bay, according to Tim DeFoe, project director for the plant. SOBAC members fear the brine discharge will hurt the Bay's delicate ecosystems, and want the plant's owners -- Tampa Bay Desal -- to find another way to get rid of the effluent.