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Apopka officials describe sinkhole, liner failures at Golden Gem reclaimed‑water ponds; tests show no drinking‑water contamination
Summary
City staff reported a sinkhole and liner damage at the Golden Gem reclaimed‑water facility that left the large pond offline; emergency repairs plugged the sinkhole and water‑quality tests of nearby residential wells and Rock Springs returned within normal ranges, but officials said more subsurface investigation and an itemized repair estimate are needed.
City utility staff told the Apopka City Council on Feb. 7 that the Golden Gem reclaimed‑water storage complex suffered a sinkhole last year and subsequent liner damage that rendered the larger pond inoperable.
Utility design manager Da Huo said the project, built under a multi‑year agreement with the St. Johns River Water Management District, includes two lined cells — a western cell of about 50 million gallons and an eastern cell of roughly 300 million gallons — and that heavy 2023 rains and inflows contributed to water elevations that exposed a design vulnerability. He said the sinkhole was discovered via satellite imagery and field inspection in January 2024 and phase‑one repairs to plug the sinkhole were completed in September 2024.
Da Huo said consultants conducted drinking‑water testing…
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