To the Editor:

Ninety-five thousand of our tax dollars have been paid to consultants to forecast Isle of Wight County’s water needs.

The Board of Supervisors seems to have ignored the results.

They are determined to spend $146 million tax dollars for water that may not be needed for many years to come. Where will this money come from? Where else but our tax dollars?

We were upset by the SPSA problem, but that could be nothing compared to the water deal. We will be paying for water we may not need for 40 years.

Concerning water for the intermodal park, Isle of Wight has rights to 1 million gallons of water per day of surface water from a pipeline that goes through our county from Lake Gaston. This pipeline is only half a mile from the park.

We also have the potential of obtaining surface water of up to 15 million gallons per day from a nearby locality that draws from the Blackwater and Nottoway Rivers. These two rivers are located in Isle of Wight County.

The increased demand for water to the intermodal park is estimated to be less than 1 percent of possible surface water withdrawal deemed to be of insignificant impact.

Everyone will pay for this water deal.

If you have a private well, you are not exempt. This deal will burden all of the taxpayers in this county. What deal has been made with Norfolk that was so secret that we the taxpayers of this county were not allowed to have a public hearing?

If you are not happy with what you are hearing and the tax increase that will come, please call your supervisor or come to the board meeting and let your voice be heard. They will vote on this water deal on Aug. 20.

Carroll E.Keen Sr.

Smithfield