Oakland Commission endorses BMAP implementation, adopts OSTDS remediation plan

The Town of Oakland Commission on Jan. 27 unanimously adopted an on‑site sewage treatment and disposal (OSTDS) remediation plan required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and agreed by consensus to continue supporting Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) implementation.

Ken Weaver, deputy director in the FDEP division of environmental assessment and restoration, told commissioners that BMAPs implement total maximum daily load (TMDL) targets to reduce nutrient pollution — mainly nitrogen and phosphorus — and described the plans as phased, enforceable frameworks that rely on local projects and periodic reporting. "A TMDL can kind of be thought of as a diet for the water body," Weaver said, summarizing the technical goal of reducing pounds of nutrient load to meet water quality standards.

Consultants from Kimley Horn presented the town’s OSTDS remediation plan, which used Department of Health parcel records and local data to inventory permitted on‑site systems. The firm reported an inventory of roughly 905 parcels with permitted OSTDS (six of those parcels were already converted to central sewer; staff noted an additional 19 conversions during the meeting). The consultants estimated roughly $55.5 million to eliminate the septic systems identified in the study (not including connection or impact fees charged by accepting cities) and suggested breaking large projects into smaller $3–4 million phases to improve eligibility for grants.

The presentation included several cost scenarios: Kimley Horn estimated per‑projectized conversion costs that imply an average figure near $62,000 per connection in the larger conversion projects, and estimated roughly $18,000 per unit for OSDS enhancement options (the total enhancement estimate reported was about $16.2 million). The firm said it prioritized projects by cost per pound of nitrogen removed and proximity to Lake Apopka and recommended pursuing available grant programs, including FDEP springs grants and community development funds, to offset costs for residents.

Commissioners and staff discussed the town’s existing ordinance that requires property owners to connect to central sewer within one year of an active sewer line adjacent to their property (or pay a base monthly fee). Several commissioners and residents voiced concern about the financial burden on households and urged continued pursuit of grants and other funding to reduce out‑of‑pocket costs. One commissioner said a recent Hull Avenue connection cost an individual resident about $5,500, while consultants said per‑lot estimates vary by lot size and gravity sewer depth.

During public comment, resident Louie Smith asked about a historical pilot cleansing system on Lake Apopka and whether lessons from that project had been evaluated and might inform future work. "They were pumping water through that system to cleanse nitrogen and phosphorus. My question... was that system successful?" Smith asked.

Staff said the remediation plan meets the statutory requirements for OSTDS remediation planning, that the town has already entered projects into the DEP portal, and that DEP staff will review submissions and report statewide progress in the annual statewide report. The commission adopted the remediation plan and a statement recognizing the importance of BMAP implementation by consensus; no roll‑call vote was recorded. Staff said they will return with more detail after internal review of submitted projects and will continue to pursue state and federal grant funding to reduce costs to residents.

What happens next: staff will finalize the town’s project entries and report updated credit and milestone progress through DEP’s statewide reporting; commissioners directed staff to continue grant pursuit and public outreach so residents can prepare for future connection timelines.