ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The challenges to clean up the water quality for Wedgefield residents continues, and its likely homeowners will pay more for clean water.

What You Need To Know

  • For years, Wedgefield residents have been battling with a nearby water treatment plant to update their aging water facility and raise the quality of their drinking water
  • A 600-page report documented corrosion and wear in the system with “significant deficiencies” related to water quality, flow, capacity and safety 
  • Homeowners met with Orange County Utilities privately in March to discuss the sale of the water plant and expected costs to fix the facility
  • Residents were told that per household over 20 years, they would possibly pay $40,000 each

The community east of Orlando gets its water from the Pluris plant where a report deemed the facility with “significant deficiencies” related to water quality, flow, capacity and safety.

Residents met privately this month on March 15 with Orange County Utilities (OUC) to discuss water issues and who may provide them water in the future.

Resident Sue Grode says everyone in the neighborhood does not trust where their water is coming from.

“You either filter it and you can drink it, but nobody really trusted at this point. It’s been this way for 30 years,” said Grode while drinking a glass of filtered water.

Grode and over 1,700 homeowners get their water from the nearby Pluris water treatment plant. 

Resident Sheila Mayhew says the purchase price would have to be between $14 million to $16 million for most residents to be able to afford future costs, including a bond and plant repairs.

“The community that night on both of these meetings were polled, and they said that they would be willing to do a $35 million bond,” said Mayhew.

Grode says it will come out of homeowners pockets each year to fix this problem.

“Per household over 20 years, the high end with everything would be about $40,000 per household,” said Grode.

The residents’ fear stems from a 600-page report that documented corrosion and wear in the system with “significant deficiencies” related to water quality, flow, capacity and safety. 

In a previous statement issued by Orlando attorney Martin Friedman, Pluris says it has maintained its water quality for Wedgefield residents.

“The water Pluris provides to its customers meets all regulatory requirements, and the wastewater treatment plant is also in compliance with all regulatory requirements. Pluris is not polluting the environment nor selling subpar water.”

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Orange County Utilities is still negotiating with Pluris regarding a sales price for the treatment plant. 

The county offered $8 million, but Pluris countered at $20.5 million. 

Most residents agree that the plant needs to be sold right away so their water and sewer systems can be updated.

“The bottom line is, is we have to do the purchase, first. And we are believing to get the sale price between 14 and 16 million,” said Mayhew.

Pluris Water officials are expected to meet with the mayor and Orange County commissioners regarding the sale and related issues on April 8.