Pensacola Beach Reclaimed Water System Expansion
Implementing Organization
State of Florida
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$4,683,404
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)
Funding Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA
Details
Project Category
Environmental
Project Actions
Water Quality Restoration and Maintenance
Targeted Resources
Wetlands/Marshes/Estuaries
Project Description
The project aims to reduce the discharge of nutrients and other pollutants into Santa Rosa Sound by expanding the Emerald Coast Utility Authority’s (ECUA) Pensacola Beach Reclaimed Water System. This project includes making additional reclaimed water available to the Santa Rosa Island Authority for irrigation of more public rights-of-way and making reclaimed water available for irrigation of commercial and residential areas on Santa Rosa Island. The project will implement Phases I-IV of ECUA’s Reclaimed Water Master Plan, which includes constructing pumping facilities, reuse transmission, and distribution lines. Ecological benefits include reduced nutrient loading to Santa Rosa Sound and conservation of potable water and reduced demand on the Sand-and-Gravel aquifer, ECUA’s drinking water source. Implementation of Phases I-IV of the ECUA Reclaimed Water Plan would result in a reuse potential of 0.94 mgd. Combining the current reuse of approximately 120,000 gallons per day with this project would lead to a reduction in approximately 8,500 pounds of annual nitrogen (at permit discharge limits), 2,850 pounds of phosphorus, and 14,000 pounds per year of total suspended solids into Santa Rosa Sound. The improvement in water quality due to reduced wastewater discharge to surface waters is expected to improve and expand submerged aquatic vegetation. Further, fertilizer use on Santa Rosa Island may be reduced because of the nutrients available in reclaimed water.
Contact
Pearce Barrett(850) 245-2106
pearce.barrett@floridadep.gov
Project Website
None
For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/