The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County are working on a study to determine if water from Lake Tarpon can be used to supplement the county’s North Reclaimed Water System.
By supplementing the reclaimed water system, more customers can be connected to the system, which will help offset groundwater pumping.
Based on the premise that the reclaimed water system may be supplemented by up to 3 million gallons per day at different times throughout the year, the study will include an evaluation of the location, timing and quantities available for withdrawal from the lake. A preliminary design and permit requirements for an intake structure, pumps, filtration and a treatment system will also be determined during this study.
The study will also evaluate alternative methods of delivery and coordination with the county’s Lake Tarpon aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) project, which involves the construction and testing of an ASR well near the south end of Lake Tarpon. The well is expected to store excess surface water collected from Lake Tarpon to be used to supplement the Pinellas County Utilities reclaimed water system and support lake management and watershed restoration activities identified in the Lake Tarpon Drainage Basin Management Plan.
The cooperatively funded feasibility study is expected to cost $200,000. Pinellas County will receive up to $100,000 in financial assistance from the District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board.
According to the terms of the agreement, the study is anticipated to be complete by December 31, 2007.
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.