Gov. Scott signed into law the 'reclaimed water' bill pushed by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Rep. Dana Young, R-Tampa.
The law forbids water management districts, which control water for the state, from forcing cities and utilities to give away water they pay to treat. It is designed to encourage Tampa and other cities to invest in infrastructures for reclaimed water.
The city dumps 65 million gallons of water into Tampa Bay every day that could be used in place of potable water for things like irrigating agriculture, washing cars and watering lawns, Buckhorn said.
In it's original form, the bill gained media buzz for a clause to grant utility companies and private entities ownership of treated water.
Lawmakers stripped that from the law in light of sharp criticism from environmental groups and former Gov. Bob Graham, who feared water might become a commodity sold to the highest bidder.
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