Density Reduction Groundwater Recharge area ( DRGR )                                         Return

Some are asking the question: How do we increase density on sensitive lands east of I-75 while addressing the concerns of water quality as it flows to the Imperial River?

 Quite obviously this is a loaded question so let’s unload it!  What if we don’t increase density and simply address the concerns of water quality as it flows to the Imperial River?

The lands in question east of I-75 known as Density Reduction Groundwater Recharge Area ( DRGR ) were set aside years ago by Lee County to reduce density and allow rainwater to be absorbed into the ground to recharge the source of our drinking water. Land in South Florida is not very efficient at absorbing rainwater so large tracts of land are needed to protect each well.  Our drinking water has been pumped from fairly shallow wells ( 100 feet ) where it could be more readily recharged but due to overpopulation the wells are severally challenged.  Those in charge saw fit to drill more deep wells (600 feet ) to accommodate the ever increasing population.

One ounce of commonsense will tell you that a 600 ft deep well in south Florida puts it well below sea level so no surprise there is plenty of water down there but it’s a bit salty.  Those in charge built a desalination plant that is capable of providing ample drinking water to our ever increasing population.  Just one catch: it cost a lot more to process salty water from the deep wells.  Have you noticed a rather large increase in your water bill in the last few years? Just consider that your contribution to subsidize the growth in south Florida.

Why not go ahead and develop the DR/GR lands because they are not very efficient anyway?   Each housing unit we build on these sensitive lands creates a Double Negative.  # 1 The roof top will block rainwater from being absorbed into the ground and  #2  The occupants of the house will demand more water from our already overburdened wells.

One more ounce of commonsense will tell you the more water we pump from the deep wells the more salty sea water will seep in to replace it because these wells are too deep to be easily recharged from surface rainwater, and besides you let them build houses up there, remember!

 The more salty the water the more it cost us to process .  Experts tell us it could eventually cost 4 to 6 times more to process this salty water.   So expect if we continue to build more housing units that your water bill can go up 4 to 6 times what it is now.

I will ask the question again:  What if we do not increase density and simply address the concerns of surface water that carries pollutants into the Imperial River?  Then we must do the following:

     #1 Create a master plan for the DR/GR area that identifys uplands, lowlands, flow ways and potential retention areas.

     #2 Formulate a Density Bonus Program in areas where we can tolerate a small amount of additional density.  Require developers to purchase designated land in the DR/GR and deed it to the City in exchange for allowing them to build bonus units in, for example, the Old 41 Redevelopment area.

     #3   Enforce “Best Management Practices” in all areas of the city especially in the DR/GR.  Best Management Practices are a series of land management techniques designed to prevent pollutants from running off  your property on to another.

We can and should be good stewards of the land. We have no obligation to our friends in the development community to subsidize their efforts or hand them additional profits. Let us exhibit a little tough love and hopefully they will respect us for it.