Subject:
Title
Cooperative Funding Agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to perform a feasibility study to evaluate effluent management alternatives at the South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Cooperative Funding Agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District to perform a feasibility study to evaluate effluent management alternatives at the South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility (SCBAWRF).
• Grant agreement for $200,000.00 with a $200,000.00 County match.
• Project consists of performing a feasibility study to identify costs, benefits, and recommendations for three effluent management alternatives within the South County reclaimed water service area.
• Project benefits include operational flexibility for the treatment facility and improved management of wet weather flows at the SCBAWRF.
• Funds are derived from the Sewer Revenue and Operating Fund and the County match is fully budgeted for in Fiscal Year 2024. The grant is new and will require a budget amendment to recognize revenue and appropriate expenditures in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget.
Funding Agreement No. 23CF0004148; PID No. 003149A; Term expires December 31, 2024.
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Strategic Plan:
Practice Superior Environmental Stewardship
3.1 Implement green technologies and practices where practical
3.3 Protect and improve the quality of our water, air and other natural resources.
3.4 Reduce/reuse/recycle resources including energy, water and solid waste.
Deliver First-Class Services to the Public and Our Customers
5.2 Be responsible stewards of the public’s resources.
5.4 Strive to serve the needs of all Pinellas County residents and customers.
Summary:
Summary
Funding will be used to complete a feasibility study evaluating and comparing three (3) different 9.0 million gallon per day (mgd) reclaimed water management options for the full utilization of the County's excess of non-beneficial surface water discharge flows from the SCBAWRF. Options include, but are not limited to, lake augmentation, aquifer recharge or deep well injection with reuse system maximization, and direct potable reuse. The study will identify costs, benefits, projected water supply, nutrient reduction, and natural system enhancement benefits, opinion probable construction costs, operation, and maintenance costs, and how each option supports the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) strategic initiatives. The Agreement term ends December 31, 2024.
Paragraph 12 of the Agreement, pursuant to the provisions of Section 768.28, Florida Statutes states the County shall indemnify and hold SWFWMD harmless, which the County does not do per Resolution 06-70 attached. However, SWFWMD is historically unwilling to alter liability/indemnity language in its form cooperative funding agreements. The County Attorney has documentation from SWFWMD legal counsel stating that the County should assume as much until SWFWMD advises otherwise. Consequently, SWFWMD will not change its liability/indemnity language in this funding agreement.
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Background Information:
On June 29, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 64 which requires domestic wastewater facilities to prepare and submit a five-year plan to eliminate non-beneficial surface discharges to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) by November 21, 2021. The Utilities Department submitted a Plan on October 29, 2021, and it was approved by the FDEP in May 2022. The Senate Bill 64 requires domestic wastewater utilities to fully implement their Plan to eliminate non-beneficial surface water discharges by January 1, 2032.
The SCBRW Expansion/Surface Augmentation Study includes actions for evaluating the feasibility, costs, and benefits of alternative effluent management strategies that include expanded effluent reuse, aquifer recharge via injection wells, and permitted wet weather surface water discharge into Joe’s Creek.
Fiscal Impact:
Amount funded by SWFWMD: $200,000.00
County match: $200,000.00
Estimated Agreement amount: $400,000.00
Funds are derived from the Sewer Revenue and Operating Fund and the $200,000.00 County match is fully budgeted for in FY24. The $200,000.00 grant is new and will require a budget amendment to recognize revenue and appropriate expenditures in the FY24 budget.
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeremy Waugh, Interim Director, Utilities
Partners:
SWFWMD
Attachments:
Agreement
Project Location Map
Resolution 06-70