MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

L879
Southwest Wastewater Reclamation Facility ASR Monitoring Well
System (cancelled)
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Water Supply
Basin(s) Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
Manatee County
Project Manager ELLISON, DON
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
The proposed project is a continuation of Manatee County's Southwest Wastewater Reclamation Facility Reclaimed
Water Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project (F007) and will develop a 1 to 2 mgd dry season supply. If
successful, the County will expand the capacity of the ASR system to provide a dry season supply of up to 10 mgd. In
fiscal year (FY) 2008 the County will construct two additional storage zone monitoring wells to determine the extent of
arsenic mobilization in the aquifer. The County and District continue to work with the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP) to discuss possible solutions to the arsenic problem, including the possibility of
installing a degasification system at the County's site.
Benefits
If successful, this project will increase the utilization of reclaimed water to offest groundwater withdrawals in the
Southern Water Use Caution Area. The funding request made by the County will be used to find a way to solve the
arsenic issue and proceed with the final ASR cycle testing necessary to obtain an operation permit at their Southwest
Reclaimed Water ASR site. The existing ASR well is capable of yielding 1 to 2 mgd of reclaimed water during the dry
season, however, if a solution to the arsenic issue could be implemented and an operational permit is issued,
expansion of reclaimed ASR up to 10 mgd might be possible. There are no cost benefit calculations for this project, as
benefits will be associated with future reuse projects that will be possible if a solution to the arsenic problem can be
found.
Costs
The total cost for the additional monitoring wells is $500,000 with the Manasota Basin's share not-to-exceed $250,000.
The Basin's total share is being requested for FY2008.
Additional Information
Under the original F007 project, Manatee County obtained a construction and testing permit; constructed an ASR well;
and performed several cycle tests. During cycle testing the County encountered a problem with the mobilization of
arsenic in the aquifer, which is common at ASR facilities throughout the State. Upon the discovery of the arsenic
problem in FY2006, the FDEP requested the County construct two additional storage zone monitoring wells to
determine if the extent of arsenic in the aquifer was limited to property owned by the County. The FDEP, however, has
recently modified their regulatory stance to require the drinking water standard for arsenic be met at all times in the
aquifer no matter how limited it is spatially. This occurred during or after the time when the County submitted their
Cooperative Funding request. Though there remains concern about installing additional monitoring wells at this time,
the County is committed to addressing the arsenic issue over the next year and is working with the FDEP and District
staff to finalize their plans. Therefore, the County has asked that their request continue to be considered for funding in
light of the uncertainty in the final approach that will be selected to resolve FDEP's concerns about the arsenic issue.
The County would like to wait on results of the Pre-treatment Pilot study being conducted by the District and the City of
Bradenton as to what if any additional requirements the FDEP will have. The county has cancelled this funding request
and will resubmit for funding in the future if they decide to proceed with the project.
021 - Manasota Basin 322