County briefed on Chestnut Park recharge pilot, treated wastewater deep-well option debated

Pinellas County staff briefed the board on a pilot project to drill a recharge well at Chestnut Park to test managed aquifer recharge of treated wastewater, part of a regulatory effort to eliminate surface-water discharges from wastewater treatment operations.

County administrator Jill Silverboard said the project is a pilot and that work will include drilling, subsurface hydrological testing and a monitoring plan. She characterized the activity as "way below the drinking aquifer" and said the team will study subsurface suitability.

Several commissioners expressed caution about deep-well injection given past abuses in other jurisdictions and said they preferred investments that fortify reclaimed-water distribution. Staff said the recharge pilot is one of multiple concurrent efforts: the county must meet regulatory deadlines for surface-water elimination, and staff are developing reclaimed-water recommendations, pressure solutions and other alternatives.

Why it matters: Managed aquifer recharge and treated-wastewater options can expand supply management and reduce surface discharges, but they carry technical, regulatory and public-trust issues that require monitoring and clear implementation plans.

Next steps: Staff will return with a monitoring plan, clarification about who would operate injection/pumping and timing for when recharge could transition from pilot to operational use; county staff (including Jeremy) will brief the board with more technical detail at the next meeting.