The Levy County Commission is looking for information on water — how much there is, how it is being used, where it is going and whether to join or form a water authority.

To that end it is checking whether a larger meeting place will be needed for a joint workshop on the region's water supply with the Suwannee River Water Management District and South West Florida Water Management District. The workshop set for noon, Dec. 8 at Bronson's old town hall, would also include representatives from the county's eight municipalities and the public.

At the same time, the commission decided in its Tuesday meeting that the county's eight municipalities — Fanning Springs, Chiefland, Otter Creek, Cedar Key, Bronson, Williston, Inglis and Yankeetown — will  be invited to speak up about water-related issues, including water resources, water services and the consideration of joining or forming a utility authority.

The commission approved sending a letter to the municipalities inviting them to provide written input, and noting that a workshop will be scheduled at a future date to discuss the issues with the cities' leaders.

The letter and the workshop come as the commission is still weighing whether to accept an invitation, to join the Nature Coast Water Authority — which counts Fanning Springs, and Gilchrist and Dixie counties in its membership — or to form its own water authority as proposed by Commissioner Danny Stevens of Williston and Chiefland Mayor Teal Pomeroy. The City of Williston recently informed the commission it is interested in a county authority.

“There are a lot of issues with the water supply,” Moody said, speaking about the water districts' briefing on Dec. 8. “That is the main purpose of this workshop.”

Commissioner Chad Johnson of Chiefland and community activists Renate and Barney Cannon told the commissioners they might need a larger meeting place for the water supply presentation.

All three said a briefing hosted by state Rep. Debbie Boyd in Branford on Monday was well attended. In the presentation by the districts, they show that the area's water supply is being lowered by other areas taking water to fuel their growth.

Johnson said the briefing by SRWMD Assistant Executive Director Kirk Webster included a gloomy assessment.

“He said we don't have the votes and or the power to stop other districts from taking our water,” Johnson said. “And he said we can't stop them from taking Suwannee River water.”

    Renate Cannon said dealing with the problem will be made more difficult by Webster's pending retirement at the end of the year.  She commended the two districts' presentation which shows the minimum flows and levels for the water supply. “They are doing significant harm which is not supposed to be occurring,” she said of the other areas of the state which are taking water.

    Barney Cannon and Johnson noted that the meeting filled the Branford Elementary School cafeteria. “You may need to have a bigger place,” Cannon said.

    Commissioner Marsha Drew of Yankeetown said she discussed the water issues during a meeting with State Sen. . Steve Olerich of Gainesville. Olerich represents a portion of Levy County and is a member of the Florida Senate .Select Committee on Inland Waters. In addition, he serves on the Senate's standing committees on Commerce, General Government Appropriations, Public Utilities and the Policy and Steering Committee on Governmental Operations.

    “He said he would do everything in his power to stop anyone from building a pipe to take water.”