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Tequesta utilities present major water and stormwater projects; staff flags PFAS testing and $5.745M SRF loan
Summary
Utilities deputy director Allison Felsburg briefed council on living-shoreline and swale projects, five stormwater pipeline sites, filter-media and RO membrane replacements, a $5.745 million SRF loan for treatment improvements, and tests showing PFAS/PFOS in finished water that will require a master-plan response ahead of 2029/2031 compliance deadlines.
Allison Felsburg, utilities deputy director, delivered a comprehensive utilities update at the Village of Tequesta council workshop covering stormwater, production, distribution and customer-service projects.
On stormwater, staff described a living-shoreline bank stabilization project (presented as 50% grant-funded and shared with the Town of Jupiter), swale reclamation work planned for FY26 and five planned pipe-lining projects totaling about 618 linear feet. Staff said pond inlet/outlet inspections and in-water diver clearing are scheduled for identified locations and that quotes for several projects are under review.
In production, utilities reported ongoing filter-media replacement in aging filter vessels (some original to 1982), and an RO-membrane replacement project with new membranes arriving and contractor mobilization scheduled. Allison told council the village executed an SRF loan agreement on July 1 for $5.745 million to fund water-treatment plant improvements — including conversion from gas to liquid ammonia for disinfection, instrumentation and RO system upgrades — and that the remainder of the project will be funded from reserves.
On contaminants, staff said testing under an unregulated-contaminant monitoring rule identified PFAS/PFOS in finished water above the levels anticipated under future maximum contaminant limits. Allison said the village will present a water-treatment master plan from Kimley Horn at an upcoming meeting to identify both near-term compliance solutions and longer-term options ahead of the 2029/2031 deadlines.
Distribution highlights included coordination with Martin County’s County Line Road bridge project that requires replacement of two village mains, progress on the Water Main 1 to Questa Drive replacement (with short daytime closures planned), and a Beach Road (Water Main 2) phase 2 SRF-funded project scheduled for bidding and mobilization. Staff reported the village owns and maintains about 630 fire hydrants and 1,123 potable-water valves and has contracted third-party hydrant inspections and is instituting valve exercising and dead-end flushing practices.
Allison also said the village’s backflow-prevention compliance is just over 50% and staff plans a council workshop to present recommendations to raise compliance; she noted outreach initiatives (including a school 'Drop Savers' program) to increase public education.
Council thanked staff and asked for additional detail on timelines, potential overlapping construction impacts, and additional data on PFAS mitigation options; staff said they will return with the Kimley Horn master-plan presentation and further procurement timelines.
