Dr. Aubry Arrington, the executive director of the Okeechobee River Environmental Control District, provided a detailed presentation on the district’s wastewater treatment facilities, emphasizing the financial investments required for neighborhood sewering. He highlighted that the district oversees approximately $180 million in assets, primarily underground. Dr. Arrington explained that the only homes not connected to the sewer system are mostly on private roads, with notable exceptions being Palm Beach Country Estates and Jupiter Farms. He estimated that connecting these areas to the sewer system could cost around $90 million.

During the discussion, Dr. Arrington clarified that while some homes in Palm Beach Country Estates have potable water service, the district lacks the necessary infrastructure to provide sewer service, except for a few small businesses. He emphasized the district’s willingness to extend services but noted that legal limitations and the nature of private roads complicate these connections. The presentation also covered the district’s efforts to evaluate cost-effective solar options and ongoing resilience studies with Coro Engineers to develop sustainable strategies.

The committee’s discussion then turned to water management issues, particularly the MFL violations in the Loxahatchee River. State law dictates a minimum flow level of 35 cubic feet per second for the river, and violations occur if this flow is not maintained for a continuous period of 20 days. Concerns were raised about the implications of these violations for local ecosystems, especially juvenile cypress trees. The speaker highlighted frequent violations of the salinity standard at Kitchen Creek, stressing that maintaining low salinity levels is important for the survival of cypress seedlings.

The conversation also touched on the historical efforts to improve water flow into the river, which have been ongoing since the 1970s, yet MFL violations remain a issue. The committee emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate base flows to maximize the return on investment in water quality efforts. The discussion also noted the chlorophyll levels in the river.

In addition to water management, the committee discussed the quality and operational efficiency of the local wastewater treatment system. The system employs a standard secondary treatment process using oxidation biosolids, allowing the water to meet EPA standards for recycling, notably for landscape irrigation. Several local golf courses, including Jupiter Hills and Trump National, utilize this reclaimed water.

The committee also explored the potential for transitioning to advanced wastewater treatment, which would increase operational costs and greenhouse gas emissions due to the additional carbon sources required. The local wastewater rates were noted to be cost-effective compared to neighboring areas, with the utility structure effectively utilizing funds from both wastewater customers and golf courses that pay for reclaimed water. A solar evaluation was mentioned, indicating a desire to incorporate renewable energy solutions, though cost barriers currently impede progress.

The meeting also addressed concerns about agricultural runoff and its impact on local water bodies. Water from the Everglades, previously used by the locality, has been redirected to settle a lawsuit, leading to concerns about the local water supply. The speaker explained that water from Lake Okeechobee reaches the Lake Worth Lagoon via a series of canals, particularly during heavy rainfall. The quality of this water, especially regarding agricultural runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides, was a concern, with turbidity being a more issue than nutrient levels.

The committee discussed ongoing restoration efforts to enhance wetland functions to maintain base flow to the river. The current strategy involves utilizing Mecca Farms to capture drainage water and store it in aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) wells, which would then be released into the river to enhance its flow. The importance of tracking the Integrated Delivery Schedule (IDS), which outlines the timelines for various water management projects, was highlighted.