The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of North Port are working together on an innovative alternative water supply project that will allow the city to use the Myakkahatchee Creek as a year-round water supply source, improving the quality of drinking water to customers and providing a more reliable water supply to the city and the region.
The project includes the design, permitting and construction of a facility with river bank filtration (RBF) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) for the treatment of 1.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of drinking water.
The city currently operates a conventional surface water treatment plant designed to treat up to 4.4 mgd. However, the city has not been able to consistently operate the plant at full capacity because during certain times of the year the quality of the water from the Myakkahatchee Creek and Cocoplum Canal is too poor. The elevated total dissolved solids and sulfate levels, particularly during the dry season, make it difficult to meet water quality regulations using the current treatment system, which was built in the 1960s. Therefore, the current water treatment plant has been used primarily on a seasonal basis. The city also purchases potable water from the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority to meet customer needs.
In addition to maximizing the use of surface water supplies, this project will also result in better quality water and increased production because the new RBF/RO treatment system will compliment the improvements the city is making to the existing 4.4 mgd conventional treatment plant.
The RO concentrate will be disposed of through the city’s wastewater treatment facility and will not interfere with the environment in the canals or creek.
Construction is expected to begin in June 2010 and be operational by December 2012.
This project is being cooperatively funded by North Port and the District’s Manasota Basin Board over several years. The project is expected to cost approximately $17.7 million, which includes the pilot studies and existing facility upgrades paid for by the City of North Port. The Manasota Basin Board has allocated $1.4 million for the project through fiscal year 2010. Future funding is contingent upon Basin Board approval.