A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of New Port Richey will expand the availability of reclaimed water to nearly 500 residents.
The project includes the construction of approximately 26,800 feet of reclaimed water distribution lines in the neighborhoods north of Main Street and east of U.S. Highway 19.
This project will provide approximately 217,200 gallons per day (gpd) of reclaimed water for irrigation to approximately 483 homes. The project is expected to offset about 108,600 gpd of potable water.
This cooperatively funded effort is expected to cost $2.22 million over two years. The District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board earmarked $896,830 for fiscal year (FY) 2008, of which $243,660 was from the state’s Water Protection and Sustainability Trust Fund. The city is requesting $332,835 in FY2009, which is also expected to come from the District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board.
Construction is scheduled to begin in August and is expected to be complete by December.
Reclaimed water is wastewater that has received at least secondary treatment and is used for a beneficial purpose, such as irrigation. By offsetting demand for ground water and surface water, this alternative, non-traditional water source reduces stress on environmental systems, provides economic benefits by delaying costly water system expansions, and eliminates the need to discharge wastewater effluent to surface waters.