Septic-to-sewer project in Treasure Island still in early stages of development

Posted 8/16/21

Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) executive director John Hayford spoke to Okeechobee County Commissioners at...

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Septic-to-sewer project in Treasure Island still in early stages of development

Posted

OKEECHOBEE — Okeechobee Utility Authority (OUA) executive director John Hayford spoke to Okeechobee County Commissioners at their Aug. 12 meeting about the Treasure Island septic-to-sewer project.

The project would eliminate 1,600 to 2,000 septic tanks and is estimated to include 2,430 new sewer connections. Nutrient reduction to the watershed is estimated to be about 21.9 tons of nitrogen and 5.3 tons of phosphorus per year.

The price tag for the project would be $28 million.

“I tried to use the smallest print possible for that number,” joked Hayford about the slide in the presentation with the cost. “It’s very pricey, very expensive.”

The Florida Blue-Green Algae Task Force has identified septic tanks near canals and waterways as a contributor to the excess nutrient load that can feed algae blooms. While traditional septic tanks are designed to eliminate pathogens, they do not reduce the nutrient load in the wastewater which drains into the septic tank drain field.

"Representative Steube has put in a line item in a future spending bill to start the process for paying for that,” explained Hayford. “We submitted applications for consideration at the state level this year for funding for that project. But we’re in the very early stages.”

Commissioner Kelly Owens asked about how far in the future the Treasure Island project would be completed.

“Once we do this I’m assuming there’s going to be some cost to residents in the area,” said Commissioner Owens. “And are we looking at finding ways for the people who own those properties to be able to prepare for those expenses? Are we looking at including those in monthly billing or have we gotten that far?”

“The way I can answer that,” replied Hayford, “since we haven’t even begun the design and permitting, it’s hard to know what that capital cost is going to be. What we try to pursue is grant money that is earmarked for the connection from the house to the street, to help alleviate some of those costs that the homeowner would have. The backup to that is in the past the OUA has provided payment agreements where the cost associated with the connection process would be spread out over time."

“At this stage that’s what I’d say we would offer without having the specifics for the project,” concluded Hayford.

“I like the way you’re planning for the future,” said Commissioner David Hazellief to Hayford. “We’re not going to survive if we don’t do something with our septic-to-sewer.”

A Florida Senate local funding initiative request filed on Feb. 18, 2021 by state Senator Ben Albritton is seeking $3.5 million for the Treasure Island septic-to-sewer project.

In the text of the funding request it’s stated that the goal of the project is the “removal of 934 old failing package plants and septic systems and the reduction of pollutants entering state water resources.” Before going on to state that the project will “provide for improved life, health and safety for the residents and visitors to the area” and “removal of the nutrient loads to reduce the potential for harmful blue-green algal blooms.”

Sen. Albritton took part in an Okeechobee County Legislative Delegation back in December of 2020, where local leaders voiced their support of the septic-to-sewer program. The senator cautioned that the budget could be tight in the upcoming year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There is a real hole in our budget, hovering somewhere between $2.5 and $3 billion,” said Albritton in December 2020.

“The message has been consistently from the leadership in both of our chambers and from the governor as well, that this is going to be a very lean year,” he continued. He said the Florida legislators and governor are required to balance the state budget. “We are largely a legislature that is not interested in taxing our way into a spending scenario.”

Okeechobee County Commission, Okeechobee Utility Authority

Comments

x