We’re in a drought and a company is bottling and selling off our water

To the Editor:

In 2017, the Southwest Florida Water Management District approved an Ocala water bottling company to withdraw 500,000 gallons of water a day.

Now, the same Southwest Florida Water Management District has declared for Sumter and surrounding counties that there is a Phase III “Extreme Water Shortage” restricting water usage throughout the county.

It’s OK for a water bottling company to sell our water, but we can’t use it to water our grass. Water has always been a precious resource, and it should be used for the residents and not for commercial purposes. Is this an indication of a lack of foresight or leadership?

Larry McLaughlin
Village of Tamarind Grove

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