Brimming with potential
GREG JONES and ROXANNE BROWN
Staff Writers
news@dailycommercial.com
Trying to ease water-use demands, officials are eying a pair of water reclamation facilities to serve five South Lake communities.
One of the proposed plants would be built in Groveland near the intersection of State Road 50 and Highway 565A at a cost of $1.65 million to hold more than a million gallons of treated wastewater. The other would be built in Clermont near the intersection of Highway 50 and Sunburst Lane at a cost of $1.48 million to hold about three million gallons.
Both plants -- under the umbrella of the South Lake Regional Water Initiative -- would not only be connected to one another, but also share a connection with Clermont, Groveland, Mascotte, Minneola and Montverde to use the reclaimed water. Both facilities would also have the potential to be connected to a wastewater treatment facility in Orlando.
"Gone are the days of cheap water," County Commissioner Sean Parks said. "This infrastructure project is by far the most cost effective way to address the state-mandated alternative water supply requirement. And it just makes sense because we are one of the highest aquifer recharge areas of the state.
"I hope that one day in the future, our commercial and residential landscapes are irrigated with non-potable sources such as reclaimed and stormwater. We may one day look back and say, 'Wow, I can't believe we used to use expensive potable (drinking) water that is meant for people and business, to irrigate our lawns and landscapes,' " Parks said.
"Our economic base depends on an affordable and predictable water supply. Sure, it may seem reasonable now to some, but what happens if in the coming years the typical water bill increased three or four times over. The five cities of south Lake and Lake County agreed that it is in our best interest to work together to protect our residents from rising water costs and ensure our economy will grow."
The South Lake area is the fastest going part of the county and is home to the largest city, Clermont. So, providing reclaimed water to the area is essential to conserve drinking water, officials say. Projections indicate the area's population will grow by 56 percent in the next 12 years and its water demands will increase by 54 percent, according to county records.
"The St. Johns River Water Management District has recognized this initiative as a model for sub-regional cooperation and a model for engaging the business community," Parks said. "Our initiative is not about enacting new rules and regulations or making people do something. We are just fulfilling a basic role of government by providing infrastructure in the most cost effective manner and protecting our residents property values."
No funding sources for the project have been identified, but the water management district backs it and may be able to help with some of the costs.
"The district supports the work of SLRWI and is actively engaged in the process," said Kraig McLane, its intergovernmental coordinator. "The district believes the initiative's direction to bring reclaimed water into the South Lake region is a positive step because it will offset the use of groundwater."
Hank Largin, the district's public communications coordinator, said the Clermont and Groveland projects are part of Lake County's big-picture solution to water usage.
The Orlando water reclamation plant is on Conserve II, a 2,000-acre parcel east of U.S. Highway 27 and south of Hancock Road that Orange County and the city of Orlando bought in the late 1990s. The city of Clermont has long wanted to buy reclaimed water from Orlando because it would take pressure off the aquifer, but it's been very expensive.
Some cities have even looked at buying water from other sources, such as the Coquina Coast Seawater Desalination Plant in Flagler County, but found that to be cost prohibitive, too.
Lake County Conservation and Compliance Director Greg Welstead said SLRWI will help economic development in the south end of the county. He said people are not going to move into an area or start a business if there isn't enough water available.
"Right now, we have a limited supply, and we are looking to extend the life of that limited supply, and we have to get additional water in, and reclaimed water is the way to do that," he said.
The city of Eustis is building a pair of tanks that will hold 2.5 million gallons of reclaimed water. The $2.32 million project will halt the city's annual consumption of about 54 million gallons of drinking water for irrigation and make reclaimed water available for others.
Ray San Fratello, president of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber's economic committee has been in talks with the water district about water issues in the southern part of the county. He said district officials are very concerned that aquifer overpumping will hurt surface waters and springs.
The Lake County Water Authority recently commissioned a study to see how water is flowing in the aquifer. If major problems are identified, water restrictions could tighten.
Clermont uses reclaimed water for irrigation, but said a new tank is needed because the old one is reaching capacity.
"This will help us to serve our city but also to connect with neighboring cities when they're ready, too..." city engineer Tamara Richardson said. "Finding alternative water supplies is a big issue facing everybody.
"We can't get (water) from wetlands or springs. We are not close to any of the alternative water sources, so what's feasible here is the conservation of and the expansion of our re-use systems. That way, we can continue to take wastewater, treat it and distribute it for irrigation."
Friday, February 01, 2013 - www.dailycommercial.com/3feb2013brim