Us
Print
E-mail
Rate
Butler property study totals $29,880
 |
| Purple-colored PVC pipes planned for the reclaimed water project sit in the shade of an old hay barn. Plastic pipes deteriorate from ultraviolet rays. The city grows pine trees now rather than hay. JEFF M. HARDISON/Lake City Reporter |
Reclaimed water project progresses on city’s south side.
By JEFF M. HARDISON
jhardison@lakecityreporter.com
The Lake City Advisory Utility Board recommended the City Council pay a $29,880 bill from Bailey Bishop & Lane for a topographical study of the Butler tract.
The city bought the 180-acre Butler tract on June 30 for $2.9 million as part of its reclaimed water project, which will connect to a new wastewater treatment plant on the property.
The Butler Tract property is south of Lake City near Sisters Welcome Road. One side of the land is adjacent to Interstate 75. The wastewater treatment facility will cover 40 acres and the other 140 acres will be a park for public use, City Engineer Henry Sheldon said.
The study shows the surface elevations throughout the land and will provide information for a three-dimensional view, he said. On Friday, Executive Director of Greater Lake City Regional Utility Authority Dave Clanton showed surveyors sinkholes on the property.
Before the city bought the property, Clanton walked across the whole 180 acres, wearing chain saw chaps on his ankles and calves to protect them from thorny vines.
The future reclaimed water will be treated to the point where it can be used for irrigation on yards, parks and at farms, he said. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection permitted the city’s request to install 40 miles of pipeline for reclaimed water use.
The project shows a $4.325 million bid from Meadors Construction of Jacksonville, and the Utility Advisory Board recommends City Council approve the bid.
This recommendation is despite the fact that the city has only about $2.8 million from a $3 million grant from Suwannee River Water Management District now. The city must pay $750,000 as a match, and it has about $350,000 of that remaining to pay.
During the Wednesday night meeting, Sheldon said the project includes filters, pumps, ground storage tanks and miles of pipe.
The first 10,000 feet of the 40 miles of pipe cost about $162,000, Clanton said. The pipe goes from the filtration site, under I-75 to a farm owned by Mike Tice, the first customer for this service.
Sheldon said SRWMD advised the city to move forward with the project. The reclaimed water will replace water for Tice and other customers.
Tice has a consumptive use permit from SRWMD. This water source will help
irrigate 60 of his 80 acres, Sheldon said.
Ultimately, the reclaimed water will go to yards, parks and farms. It will provide enough water to irrigate 600 acres of land at one-inch of irrigation per week, he said.
The current 360-acre sprayfield is irrigated at two-inches per week, Clanton said. The sprayfield takes water from a 14-acre reservoir that can hold 45 million gallons of water, which is pumped to sprayguns by four, 200-horsepower pumps.
The SRWMD sees the project as helping the Ichetucknee Springs Basin and other groundwater, according to SRWMD Executive Director David Still.
Still said he met with the engineer and city staff and recommended going forward with as much construction as could be funded now.
The reclaimed water project meets a permit condition to reduce nitrogen levels on the sprayfield, Sheldon said, as well as provide another source of water for irrigation elsewhere.
Lake City City Manager Scott Reynolds said other grant funds may become available in January or March, but he is uncertain about that because of the condition of the economy. The City Council will vote on the recommendation from the Utility Advisory Board.
The city bought the 180-acre Butler tract on June 30 for $2.9 million as part of its reclaimed water project, which will connect to a new wastewater treatment plant on the property.
The Butler Tract property is south of Lake City near Sisters Welcome Road. One side of the land is adjacent to Interstate 75. The wastewater treatment facility will cover 40 acres and the other 140 acres will be a park for public use, City Engineer Henry Sheldon said.
The study shows the surface elevations throughout the land and will provide information for a three-dimensional view, he said. On Friday, Executive Director of Greater Lake City Regional Utility Authority Dave Clanton showed surveyors sinkholes on the property.
Before the city bought the property, Clanton walked across the whole 180 acres, wearing chain saw chaps on his ankles and calves to protect them from thorny vines.
The future reclaimed water will be treated to the point where it can be used for irrigation on yards, parks and at farms, he said. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection permitted the city’s request to install 40 miles of pipeline for reclaimed water use.
The project shows a $4.325 million bid from Meadors Construction of Jacksonville, and the Utility Advisory Board recommends City Council approve the bid.
This recommendation is despite the fact that the city has only about $2.8 million from a $3 million grant from Suwannee River Water Management District now. The city must pay $750,000 as a match, and it has about $350,000 of that remaining to pay.
During the Wednesday night meeting, Sheldon said the project includes filters, pumps, ground storage tanks and miles of pipe.
The first 10,000 feet of the 40 miles of pipe cost about $162,000, Clanton said. The pipe goes from the filtration site, under I-75 to a farm owned by Mike Tice, the first customer for this service.
Sheldon said SRWMD advised the city to move forward with the project. The reclaimed water will replace water for Tice and other customers.
Tice has a consumptive use permit from SRWMD. This water source will help
irrigate 60 of his 80 acres, Sheldon said.
Ultimately, the reclaimed water will go to yards, parks and farms. It will provide enough water to irrigate 600 acres of land at one-inch of irrigation per week, he said.
The current 360-acre sprayfield is irrigated at two-inches per week, Clanton said. The sprayfield takes water from a 14-acre reservoir that can hold 45 million gallons of water, which is pumped to sprayguns by four, 200-horsepower pumps.
The SRWMD sees the project as helping the Ichetucknee Springs Basin and other groundwater, according to SRWMD Executive Director David Still.
Still said he met with the engineer and city staff and recommended going forward with as much construction as could be funded now.
The reclaimed water project meets a permit condition to reduce nitrogen levels on the sprayfield, Sheldon said, as well as provide another source of water for irrigation elsewhere.
Lake City City Manager Scott Reynolds said other grant funds may become available in January or March, but he is uncertain about that because of the condition of the economy. The City Council will vote on the recommendation from the Utility Advisory Board.
 |
 |
|
| ‘Growing’ to great lengths | Shelter closer to becoming reality |
