SOUTHPORT — Several Panhandle communities will benefit from water and sewer infrastructure improvements courtesy of $4.75 million from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The largest chunk of that commitment, $2 million, is allotted for Bay County, albeit with matching grants. Bay County will received $1 million as a part of an initiative to remove 220 septic tanks and connect a matching number of new utility customers. The county is paying $1.275 million for that project, which is scheduled for completion in spring 2016.
An additional $1 million will go to a project diverting wastewater as a part of a $2.25 million strengthening of the force main that runs along State 388. Currently the main runs through the RiverCamps facility processing sewage from areas around State 79 and the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
Bay County Utilities Supervisor Paul Lackemacher said the plan is to divert that sewage to a North Bay treatment facility that can better handle the volume.
“This is in a long-range plan to get ahead before it’s critical,” Lackemacher said. “It’s fine now.”
Lackemacher added that the $1 million from DEP likely would be used to construct lift stations, leaving county dollars responsible for piping. Lackemacher said construction could begin sometime in 2015 and be finished in November 2016.
The second largest grant, $1.5 million, was awarded to Mexico Beach for a project to construct two water wells. Mexico Beach Public Works Director Troy Williams said the idea is to develop an alternative water source for the city in case water from Bay County is not available, possibly because of a hurricane or some other type of disaster. Neither Williams or new City Manager Mel Smigielski seemed sure about specifics for the project, either where or how big the wells would be. Williams said the city has used 6-inch wells in the past. DEP reports the project is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2016.
The city of Marianna was awarded $665,000 for an ongoing project that includes a new well, elevated storage tank and replacing 8,500 linear feet of water main. The funding will specifically go toward connecting the city’s two existing storage tanks, including 3,500 feet of piping, 10 new connections to the system and new fire hydrants. The project is scheduled for completion next year.
DeFuniak Springs will receive $417,498 to replace 9,800 feet of concrete water main with PVC. The project should save water in leaks and is scheduled for completion next year.
