Big homes on Anna Maria Island need greater amounts of water than smaller cottages.
More sinks, toilets and showers and swimming pools use more water.
It’s basic math, or so it would seem.
City commissioners in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach have expressed concerns about infrastructure, wondering if the current utilities can handle the newer, larger homes sprouting up across the island.
Anna Maria Commission Chair Chuck Webb voiced his worry at the July 23 city meeting at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive. Webb stated he had heard the fire department wouldn’t be able to fight two fires at one time.
Holmes Beach Chair Judy Titsworth expressed similar concerns at a July 28 city meeting at Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive. She said she was worried Holmes Beach doesn’t have the infrastructure — water, power, trash and transportation — to handle the increasing number of visitors.
So is the island in danger of losing water pressure because of new homes and businesses?
The Manatee County Utilities Department says no. In fact, Amy Pilson, the public liaison for Manatee County utilities, said there’s nothing to worry about.
“We’ve heard the concerns about the island’s water supply before,” she said. “And I want everyone to know there are no issues regarding water.”
Pilson said the island isn’t experiencing the kind of growth that would make a loss of pressure possible. She acknowledged older smaller homes are being replaced with larger ones, but it’s not a problem from the standpoint of MCUD.
“When you’re building a larger development, the pipes will need to be replaced to accommodate the new building, but it won’t have an affect on the pressure,” she said.
Pilson said she spoke with Manatee County utilities water manager Mark Simpson about the issue and was told pressure wouldn’t be a problem for a long time, if at all.
When a community spreads out from the base infrastructure, that’s when pressure starts to drop. “The island community can’t spread out any farther,” she said.
Systems are already in place to prevent the infrastructure from failing, too. Every city requires plan inspections to ensure the city can handle any proposed development, Pilson said.
Pilson said there’s more than enough pressure for West Manatee Fire Rescue to battle two island fires at once, adding safety is always a priority.
West Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Tom Sousa agreed. “There’s plenty of pressure. And even if there wasn’t, the fire department has the capability to take water directly from the canals and bay.”
Sousa also said when the new homes at Villa Rosa on South Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria were proposed, water lines hadn’t been installed there, but it’s been corrected.
“We were able to fix that problem last year by installing a water-pump system near Galati Marine, 900 S. Bay Blvd., and a sub-aqueous line under Bimini Bay,” he said.