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Fort Myers reports $323M estimate to eliminate surface-water discharges, asks DEP to align schedule with SB64
Summary
Environmental compliance manager Justin Mahone reported the city faces large cost increases to meet a wastewater consent order and is asking the Department of Environmental Protection to modify the compliance schedule to align with Senate Bill 64 timelines.
Justin Mahone, the city's environmental compliance manager, gave the board a detailed update on the wastewater consent order that was triggered by sanitary sewer overflows and nutrient exceedances. He reported that corrective actions have been underway since 2021 and that some projects have been completed, including lining gravity sewer mains under Billy Creek.
"The total cost for that project ended up being $1,980,000," Mahone said of the lining and upgrades completed under the consent order. He later summarized larger program costs, telling the board the total estimated cost to eliminate surface-water discharge is $323,000,000 and that the cumulative utility investment since 2021 is about $750,000,000.
Mahone walked through monitoring results: in Billy Creek HF183 and acetaminophen (human indicators) have not been detected since the consent order began; Manual Branch recently returned two consecutive non-detect results and staff has requested DEP closeout for that corrective action. He explained the city met early milestones but is concerned the percent-based targets in the consent order (60% by 12/31/2023; 80% by 12/31/2025; 99% by end of 2028) do not match current growth-driven wastewater flows and that Senate Bill 64 requires elimination of non-beneficial surface-water discharge by 01/01/2032.
Because lead times, inflation and population growth have driven costs far above 2020 estimates, Mahone said the city has proposed to DEP that compliance be measured by project completion rather than a fixed percentage and that the final project completion date be extended to late 2031 to harmonize with SB64. He said DEP has issued a request for additional information quantifying nutrient loads and that the city expects a response on the proposed modification soon.
On funding, Mahone said the city has obtained some State Revolving Fund assistance and has allocated capital funds; he said there is no current plan to raise rates specifically to pay for these projects, though council discussions about a broad 5% increase are ongoing. Mahone emphasized the utility must balance large capital projects with ongoing maintenance and I/I investigations so plant stability is not compromised.
