SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla — Water quality in Winter Springs is being put under a microscope.

Last week, the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee called for an operational audit of the drinking and wastewater systems for the City of Winter Springs.

Jesse Phillips, the President of the Winter Springs Community Association, shared the water has been a concern for his family since they moved here several years ago. He said he started engaging with the state after a 2021 leak from the wastewater plant that led to a massive fish kill in a nearby pond.

“I think that was the first time that we thought ok at that point, this is an environmental catastrophe and so some residents around the area called the DEP,” said Phillips. 

Phillips said he thought the water issues were isolated until his organization conducted a survey asking what people in the community were most concerned about.

“Water quality came back as the top issue of concern for folks over public schools, over public safety because water quality is a public safety issue,” said Phillips. 

With an independent audit of city water beginning soon. We asked City Manager Shawn Boyle for comment on this, who shared a statement:

“The City has a great deal of respect for the difficult task that legislators have with managing public expectations in the third largest State in the Country. The City also has a great deal of confidence in Honorable Senator Jason Pizzo to conduct a fair and unbiased review of the facts that will be presented. The State audit is primarily focused on Drinking Water and our Sewer Infrastructure.

The City is excited that these topics will be reviewed by the State and we are very confident the audit will affirm the position of the City; Winter Springs drinking water is safe and in compliance with all safe drinking water standards. It will also affirm the City’s decision, which began two years ago, to replace both its sewer plants was in fact the correct strategic plan. It is the City’s goal that this will provide a final and definitive confirmation demonstrating the City has been acting in the best interest of its residents.”​

Phillips shared he just wants to see change. 

“For the first time in a while, there is actually some hope that we can see some changes made and some progress made because of the state’s interest,” said Phillips.