ES&E Photo story by Tom Davey
A 1.5 US m.g.d wastewater treatment plant in St. Lucie County, Florida will begin selling the treated wastewater commercially very soon. We were in Florida when the hook-up to the first private development got underway, in January, 1998. Three pipes in the trench are for potable water, sewage and reclaimed water. This treatment facility has been in operation for over a year and does not discharge to any receiving waters.
Currently, treated water costs $3.52 per thousand US gallons. As lawns, flowers and shrubbery require year round watering in most of Florida, irrigation is extremely expensive. One small condominium nearby serves only 150 families in three highrises. Moreover, many of the units are in use only during winter months. Yet this one condo uses 35,000 US gallons per day all year round. Then too, large golf courses in particular have a voracious appetite for water.
The plant gives another benefit. Some of the aquifers serving North Hutchinson Island were becoming drawn down allowing salinated water to penetrate them.
Reclaimed water from the Island Treatment Plant will be sold at $2.52 (US) per thousand gallons. The reclaimed water has a sulphuric odour, but, experts say, it will be safe to apply to lawns and landscape plants. Nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorous which remainin the treated water are added environmental and economic benefits. Until January 1998, the treated water has been used only to irrigate state and county parklands. Now, with the installation of 33,000 ft. of PVC pipe, the treated irrigation waters will be soon piped to many condos and houses, giving economic as well as environmental benefits to the island. (For original report, see ES&E, March 1997.)