ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Residents in the eastern Orange County community of Wedgefield have been fed up with paying more money for what they deem is low-quality water for some time now.

Some residents say this has been the norm for the past three decades.

What You Need To Know

  • Pluris water officials meeting with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and commissioners to discuss state of their negotiations regarding the sale of the water plant

  • For years, Wedgefield residents have been battling with a nearby water treatment plant to update their aging water facility and raise the quality of the drinking water there

  • A 600-page report by Orange County Utilities (OCU) cited “significant deficiencies” related to the system’s water quality, flow capacity and safety

  • In March, homeowners met with Orange County Utilities to discuss the sale of the water plant and expected costs to fix the facility
  • According to Pluris’ attorney, Martin Friedman, the county’s expert valued the systems at $25.9 million in its current condition, to which the County has offered $10M so far

Most homeowners that live in the community located east of Orlando get their water and wastewater systems from the Pluris Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant.

But a more than 600-page report from Orange County Utilities (OCU) last year cited “significant deficiencies” related to the water quality, flow capacity and safety there.

The report also included photos of the corrosion and deteriorating nature of the plant’s system, justifying many residents’ fears.

The Deputy Director of OCU, Tim Armstrong, has noted in the past that if the Pluris system were acquired by the county that it would have to be upgraded to meet the county’s system standards.

From there, Orange County commissioners stepped in and offered to purchase the treatment facility for $8 million. To that offer, Pluris countered with $20.5 million.

Pluris’ attorney, Martin Friedman, previously shared in a statement with Spectrum News 13 that the company is actually valued at $25.9 million, and the $20.5 million counter was a substantial reduction.

While the next update includes information regarding a possible Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU), it’s unclear if the county has made any headway with the company. 

If considered, the MSBU would mean funding essential services to those residents in Wedgefield — that funding could be a onetime thing or reoccurring. The county held two community meetings in March to discuss the idea and other potential solutions while they work through negotiations.

Wedgefield residents are hopeful they will get more information regarding the sale of the Pluris Water Plant since Pluris officials are set to meet with Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and commissioners on Tuesday to discuss the sale of the facility.

Negotiations to determine a price for the plant have been going on for quite some time.

Over 1,700 homeowners in Wedgefield get their water from the Pluris plant.

That’s why concerned residents held a series of community meetings with Orange County Utilities last month to discuss the sale of the plant and the costs involved to fix the facility.

Residents like Sheila Mayhew say that in order for them to afford future costs, including a bond and repairs to the plant, the purchase price for the plant would have to be between $14 to $16 million.

In March, Mayhew told Spectrum News, ”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.”