County Urges Caution Against Water Solicitations

BROOKSVILLE - County officials are warning residents to be wary of phone calls and e-mails from solicitors offering to test their drinking water.

Community Relations Coordinator Brenda Frazier said residents are periodically contacted from private water treatment companies identifying themselves as being affiliated with the county.

Frazier said she wants people to know that these callers are not connected with Hernando County Utilities.

People should also not interpret the calls as an indication of poor water quality, she said.

"We have the water tested by an independent lab on a regular basis," Frazier said. "They should not be concerned and feel they need to get their water tested."

Water from the Hernando County utilities system meets all state regulations, she said.

Frazier said residents can differentiate between private companies and official county employees because the utilities department uses official letterhead, clearly marked vehicles and employee identification.

For more information, residents can call the Hernando County Utilities Department at 754-4037 or visit the Web site at www.hernandocounty.us/utils/

In other news:

The next household hazardous waste collection day is from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 1 at the West Hernando Convenience Center, 2525 Osowaw Blvd., Spring Hill. There will be no charge to county residents for disposal of their own waste. Prices for hazardous chemical removal and disposal may be obtained from the Solid Waste & Recycling Division, at 14450 Landfill Road, Brooksville.

For more information, call Jeff Howley, environmental specialist, at 754-4112, ext.116.

To find out what qualifies as household hazardous waste see: www.hernandocounty.us/utils/SolidWaste_Recycling/householdHW.htm.