Septic to sewer projects planned in Okeechobee County

Posted 2/11/22

Thanks to millions in state and federal funding, Okeechobee Utility Authority is moving forward with projects to connect hundreds of homes and...

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Septic to sewer projects planned in Okeechobee County

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OKEECHOBEE – Thanks to millions in state and federal funding, Okeechobee Utility Authority is moving forward with projects to connect hundreds of homes and businesses to the sewer system. The conversion from septic tanks to the sewer system will reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus entering waterways that flow into Lake Okeechobee.

The Florida Blue-Green Algae Task Force has identified septic tanks near canals and waterways as a major contributor to the nutrient load that feeds harmful algal blooms.

At the Feb. 10 meeting of the Okeechobee County Commission, John Hayford, OUA executive director, gave commissioners an overview of septic-to-sewer conversion plans in the Southwest Service Area – from Eagle Bay along SR 78 to the Kissimmee River – and in Treasure Island.

He said they have three projects in the works in the Southwest Service Area. Project 1 has an expected total cost of $6,186,939. It is fully funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and includes a master pump station, a diversion main and a master force main.

Project 2 includes the piping system and vacuum pumps for the residential connection to the system. Expected cost is $10,830,783 for the Southwest Service Area and $612,756 for Oak Lake Estates. It is partially funded by FDEP appropriations with the remainder from a USDA loan. Construction is anticipated to begin by December 2022. This will provide service to approximately 500 to 700 homes and businesses. The project is anticipated to remove 6.7 tons of nitrogen and 1.6 tons of phosphorous per year.

Project 3 is the Okee-Tantie pump station and force main which will serve the State Road 78 corridor from Okee-Tantie to the Southwest Service Area. The expected total cost of Project 3 is $8,575,000 and is fully funded by FDEP. This project will provide sewer connections to approximately 600 residences and businesses. The project is anticipated to remove about 5.7 tons of nitrogen and 1.4 tons of phosphorus per year. Construction is anticipated to begin by May 2023 with construction completed by summer 2024.

The Treasure Island Septic to Sewer Project is expected to start construction by December 2023 with completion by late Spring 2025. Costs are expected to be around $30 million. Of that $30 million, $21 million has been allocated. Haywood said they are pursuing state and federal funding sources for the remaining $9 million. Haywood said this project will serve 1,500 to 2,500 residences and businesses.

septic-to-sewer, conversion, plans, oua, funding

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