West Boynton may get city water, sewer

The county would use that money to pay back the city over 20 years.

BOYNTON BEACH — For Spence, 73, says it’s worth decades, Henry Spence was it. never satisfied with his well With well water, he uses water and septic tanks in four filters: three outside and the West Boynton subdivione under the sink. And he sion in an unincorporated says the water is harder than pocket of Boynton Beach. the city water. One time his

Now Spence is one of well went dry. the residents of about 230 “It’s a lot of maintenance homes just west of the Boyn- you have to do,” he said. ton Beach Mall who might be The residents, who live upgraded to city water and east of Lawrence Road, sewer systems. But if the city wanted new services, so the does do the work, the resicounty approached the city. dents would pay through a Boynton said yes, but a final county special assessment vote of the neighborhood resthat could cost $5,000 to idents needs to take place $20,000 per household, before the plan is definite. Assistant City Manager Colin About 70 percent of resiGroff said. dents who participated in a preliminary vote said they wanted Boynton.

A formal and final vote for residents is expected within the next month or two, Groff said. If 51 percent of respon- dents are interested, the plan moves forward.

The city is paying about $7,500 for costs, including the petition and public hear- ing processes.

Tim O’Connor, spokesman for the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, said he always encourages a move from well water to a citywide water system.

“Because you have daily activity. They monitor water as it’s coming out of the water plant, and they monitor the distribution points,” he said. “The best part is it’s monitored daily 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And if there are any violations, they issue a boil-water notice immediately.”

Still, for some the upgrade won’t come at an ideal time. And that includes Spence.

He closed on his house in late February to move to Atlantis in a home that already has city water, he said. Before closing on the Boynton home, he bought a pump and tanks for the system. He said the well water and septic tanks were a factor in his desire to move but not a major one.