- August 10, 2026
Dear Editor:
Isn’t it ironic that the “Toilet to Tap” issue only enters the conversation during campaign season? Then quietly disappears again until the next campaign cycle. Why is this?
“Toilet to Tap” is a rather poor name for potable water. It is used by those who lack solutions or ideas to current issues. Certain Facebook pages like to use the “Toilet to Tap” platform to target politicians they can’t get to push their narratives.
No one is actually converting toilet water to tap water, whether it is on the ballot or not.
Ormond Beach has taken extensive measures to ensure that the city will not have to resort to potable water, now or in the future. Long term measures such as reverse osmosis, water retention west of 95 and only using 60% of their St Johns Water Management consumptive use permit has been implemented. Ormond Beach operates well below the allotted water usage. In other words, we don’t need to seek alternative water solutions such as potable water.
Shouldn’t a real issue be the 4,000 plus septic tanks beachside percolating into our aquifer?
Putting “Toilet to Tap” on the ballot not only costs the taxpayers to do so, but it is also looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.
Ed Kelley
Ormond Beach
Editor's note: Ed Kelley is a former Ormond Beach City Commissioner and mayor, and former chair of the Volusia County Council.
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