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Consultants warn Oakland will exceed water‑plant capacity; $6.5M expansion recommended
Summary
CPH Consulting told the Town of Oakland that the water treatment plant is projected to exceed 80% capacity in 2025 and reach 100% by 2035; CPH recommended building a ground storage tank, pump building, chemical upgrades and generator at an estimated $6.5 million and urged design work start now.
Consultants told the Town of Oakland on June 24 that the town’s water treatment plant must be expanded within the coming decade to avoid service and pressure problems as population and development increase.
Victoria Marachkovich of CPH Consulting presented a capacity evaluation and three improvement options. The firm’s projections show the plant will surpass 80% capacity by 2025 and exceed 100% by 2035 if no upgrades are made. "It is a good practice to start planning for expansion at 75% capacity," Marachkovich said.
CPH recommended selecting an option that expands facilities on adjacent property, including a 0.5‑million‑gallon ground storage tank, three high‑service pumps, upgraded chemical disinfection systems and a second generator. The consultant estimated a conceptual cost of approximately $6.5 million and a design‑through‑construction schedule of about 23 months; funding procurement could add roughly six months.
Consultants and town staff emphasized that irrigation nights and peak demand currently push the plant close to installed capacity and that further new developments—Oakland Park, The Grove, Briley Farms, Bayview and Harvest—will increase demand. CPH noted the town’s St. Johns River Water Management District consumptive‑use permit allows an average withdrawal of 890,000 gallons per day and that the town may need to petition to increase that allocation.
Commissioners asked about phasing, temporary fixes, and the effect of the town’s alternative‑water project (partial irrigation supply). Consultants said the alternative‑water project would remove roughly 300 potable connections from demand but would not fully offset peak needs. Staff said $200,000 has been earmarked in next year’s budget to start design work and that development agreements may require developers to contribute to improvements.
CPH also said state revolving fund programs can help finance design and construction; consultants noted past projects have received principal forgiveness (examples cited ranged from ~50% to higher for smaller communities) but cautioned each application is decisioned case‑by‑case.
Next steps recommended: proceed with planning and design now, pursue state and other grant/loan opportunities, and incorporate phased construction into the town’s capital schedule so improvements are completed well before projected capacity exceedance.
