ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Leaders of the beleaguered Pluris water system, which serves the northern part of Wedgefield in east Orange County, have rejected the county’s offer to buy them out and countered, which the county plans to reject as well, sources said.
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Orange County offered $8 million dollars to take the system over, while Pluris countered at $20.5 million, county staff confirmed.
“Our team is looking into all options as part of this complicated, on-going negotiation,” a spokeswoman for Orange County Utilities wrote.
Pluris’ 60-year-old facility has been plagued by issues including water quality and equipment deterioration. Its customers pay some of the highest water bills in all of Florida and approximately twice what county customers pay.
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The county is factoring in what’s now estimated to be more than $50 million in upgrades needed to bring Pluris’ water quality up to the county’s standards, a person familiar with the negotiations said.
“Pluris continues to delay the process and prioritize their financial interests over the health and safety of our families in Wedgefield. This is unacceptable,” Orange County Commissioner Kelly Semrad wrote in response to a request for comment. “Pluris must be held accountable for polluting our environment with a failing sewer system and selling subpar water at three times the price that other tax-paying residents of Orange County pay. It’s time for change.”
Wedgefield residents said they were told the negotiations would be discussed in an upcoming commission meeting.
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