Flagler commissioners call workshop after residents, officials warn Plantation Bay wastewater could fail

Flagler County commissioners agreed on Wednesday to direct staff to develop a workshop to review short- and long-term options for the Plantation Bay water and wastewater systems after residents and officials described failing infrastructure and disputed planned upgrades. Commissioner William Mullins, who led the update, said the wastewater treatment system is the immediate priority. "We have to fix the wastewater treatment system," Mullins said, adding that the facility is at risk of a catastrophic failure that would affect sewer service for users in both Flagler and Volusia counties. The county’s recent review identified multiple near-term fixes and longer-term alternatives. Mullins and other speakers noted that only two of four potable wells at Plantation Bay were currently working and that the county still carries roughly $6,000,000 in debt tied to the facility. Residents and community leaders told the commission the site is already straining: Jane James Hill Ute, a Plantation Bay resident, said Plantation Bay homeowners have paid more than $2 million while the facility’s overall debt remains about $6 million. She urged officials to reconsider the planned reverse-osmosis system and explore less expensive treatments. Another resident, Jane Chantilly, urged a moratorium on new building permits in the area until the wastewater issue is resolved; Chantilly told the board she had been told there were about 53 permits ready for certificates of occupancy. Commissioners and staff described three broad approaches in play: (1) pursue the planned potable-water upgrade (reverse osmosis or alternative filtration), (2) seek a takeover or utility partnership with a municipality or private operator, or (3) pursue other funding and technical solutions, including grants or USDA programs. Mullins said bringing potable water from an existing source in Palm Coast was one of the options that deserved analysis. County staff and commissioners reported outreach with federal and state partners: Mullins said the county has scheduled a meeting with USDA and the Florida Rural Water Association, among others, to explore possible funding on Feb. 25. County staff and Commissioner Mullins also described short-term measures to improve potable water quality — installing a black chlorinator support tank and replacement equipment in the green tower — that could buy time while a long-term plan is developed. Commissioners emphasized finance constraints: stopping or re-scoping the current potable-water contract could free about $6 million for other priorities, but staff warned that existing indebtedness tied to the treatment facility would remain. Mullins and Commissioner Donald T. O’Brien, Jr. said roughly half the Plantation Bay customers live in neighboring Volusia County, and commissioners said that regional coordination must be part of any solution. The board did not vote on a specific funding or construction decision at Wednesday’s meeting. Instead, commissioners agreed by consensus to instruct staff to develop a public workshop that will present engineering options, cost estimates and funding pathways — including sale, public takeover, or private partnership — and to bring back recommendations for the commission to consider in a future public meeting. Why it matters: Plantation Bay’s systems serve thousands of residents and carry multi-million-dollar debts; a wastewater failure would pose immediate public-health risks and broader fiscal exposure for county taxpayers. The workshop is intended to assemble technical, financial and legal options for an informed decision and to identify short-term measures to prevent service interruptions. Background and details: Plantation Bay’s potable-water work discussed in recent meetings included proposals for reverse-osmosis treatment and alternative nano-filtration; speakers disputed which approach is most cost-effective. Mullins said temporary, lower-cost fixes could improve water quality while the board weighs longer-term solutions. Residents and commissioners repeatedly asked that county staff examine the full range of options, including selling the utility, partnering with a city, or seeking federal financing. Next steps: staff will schedule the workshop and report back with comparative cost estimates, funding sources, and a recommended timetable. The commission indicated it expects a fuller discussion before approving any contract awards for potable-water improvements.