The Martin County Water District faces a critical situation with its raw water intake project. Slated for completion by July, this project holds significant implications for the district’s financial stability and its service commitments to the community.

According to Tony Sneed, vice president and director of operations at Alliance Water Resources, finishing the project on time will allow the district to forego a rate increase next year, sparing its already overburdened customers.

The financial urgency of completing the project cannot be overstated.

In 2023 alone, the district faced excess costs averaging $35,000 per month ($420,000 for the year) due to the district’s failure to complete the raw water intake system.

Since early 2021, the district has been compelled to rent a diesel pump and purchase the fuel to operate the pump at a steep cost. These costs directly impact the district’s costs, which impact water rates for customers.

The completion of the project is a financial issue for the water district and a matter of public equity.

The water district’s recent unqualified audit—the first in 15 years—shows that MCWD meets essential financial management standards. Yet, the budget overrun from the rented pump tells the pressing need for the project’s completion.

Beyond the immediate financial relief it would provide, completing this project is crucial for maintaining trust and reliability in the county’s water system.

The project’s delay has imposed unnecessary financial burdens on the community, laying bare the lack of robust management and oversight.

With significant revenue at stake, including about $20,000 per month from supplying water to the federal prison, the project is vital. Every additional month of delay and temporary pumping solutions adds to MCWD’s financial strain and debt, eroding public confidence in the district’s capability to manage its operations effectively.

Ultimately, this is on the water board alone.

It is time for the water board to stop kicking the can down the road.