The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently signed an agreement with Polk County Utilities for a project to create 10 million gallons of storage capacity at the county’s Northeast Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility. The expanded storage capacity will increase the reliability of the reclaimed water system to meet customers’ needs. Using reclaimed water reduces the need to use potable water for irrigation.
The Polk County Utilities Northeast Regional Reclaimed Storage Expansion project consists of the permitting and construction of two 5-million gallon reclaimed water storage tanks and a new 60-horsepower pump at the facility. The pump is needed to transmit the reuse water to the new storage tanks.
Customers in the northeast service are individually metered to efficiently manage and conserve the reclaimed water supplies. Customers who are metered commonly use less water than those who pay a flat fee. Meters provide a more efficient billing, inspection and maintenance process. Meter use and education increase awareness of the fact that reclaimed water is not an infinite or cheap source of water for irrigation and should be conserved like any other water resource, such as potable water.
The project is expected to cost $4.69 million. Funding for the project is being divided between the District and Polk County Utilities. District funding is through the Peace River Basin Board and the state’s Water Protection and Sustainability Program.
The project is expected to be complete by July 2007.