Safe Water for Walton is “READY TO RIDE” . . . with help of Pedego® !
Local non-profit launches its web site, announces major 2018 Legislative Session successes, and has two Pedego® electric bikes to give away!
Safe Water for Walton has been a registered non-profit organization for less than 6 months, yet already has racked up a list of successes.
Now, the group says it’s time for the community to help celebrate and be part of creating new projects. It has a “Safe Water for Walton ‘READY TO RIDE!’ Membership Drive,” sponsored by Pedego® Electric Bikes 30A—a drawing for not just one but two brand-new bikes! The value of each Pedego® electric bike is $2,295.00!
Safe Water for Walton was launched in November 2017 by a group of local community leaders to more closely watch some major regional and local water policy issues.
All of the Board members—and the soon-to-be-announced Community Advisory Council members—have either worked in State government in Tallahassee, or on various countywide policy issues. Highlights from the list of accomplishments by Safe Water for Walton so far include:
- Sent the Florida Governor a 4-page letter with seven separately researched concerns about a contentious wastewater treatment-related bill (HB 1149) that the group had watched the most closely, with hired its lobbyists. The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature. The Governor vetoed the bill on April 6. It was the only substantive policy bill the Governor vetoed from the 2018 Session.
- Has continued to be the leading voice in Walton County against a “deep injection well” for toxic landfill leachate in Jackson County, as proposed by a private vendor. The county commissions in Jackson, Gadsden, and Walton in 2017 all passed unanimous resolutions against this State regulatory permit application—as have all three cities in Walton County—Freeport, DeFuniak Springs, Paxton—in addition to other nearby cities and towns. The permit is pending on file with the State, with no timetable or deadline for either approval or denial. This existential threat to the region’s public water supply continues to be the No. 1 priority of the group and is what galvanized it into being formed.
- Just launched a web site—www.safewaterforWalton.org—made possible with major support from RandyWiseHomes.com, Coastal Accounting, and others.
- Organized Walton County’s first-ever “Operation Medicine Cabinet” with State funding support, and a U.S. Southeastern expert in hazardous waste disposal. Plans are already under way for another pharmaceuticals/medicines collection event with more local sponsors. OMC is a national movement to keep all types of pharmaceuticals and medicines out of the communities’ local water supply and drinking water, because they aren’t all regulated within federal or state drinking water standards. Flushed medicines also harm wildlife species, with many examples of some fish changed from male to female. Everyone is encouraged to never flush any medicines down a drain—whether it’s antibiotics, painkillers, mood stabilizers, anti-convulsants, any male/female hormone material, or cough syrup liquid. Pharmaceuticals are hazardous to waterways and public drinking water, including those on private water wells.