1990.09.21_TC_Minutes_Special. ~ t ,• ~ s
• TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH, FLORIDA
Minutes of Meeting of Town Commission
SPECIAL MEETING
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1990
1:30 P.M.
Mayor Boulay called the Special Meeting of the Town Commission, Town of
Highland Beach, Florida, to order at 1:30 P.M. in the Commission
Chambers at Town Hall. Others present were Vice Mayor Bill Paul, Com-
missioners Marvin A. Waldman, Betty Jean Stewart and Harold C. Chambers.
Also in attendance were the following Members of the Water Resources
Advisory Board: Chairman A. G. Voress, John Littlejohn, Irwin Rome,
Richard Brunton and Jane Raynor.
Present also were Town Manager Mary Ann Mariano, Town Clerk Anne M.
Kowals and members of the general public.
Mayor Boulay noted that the Special Meeting was scheduled for the
purpose of reviewing "I Q Water - A Smart Way to Conserve a Limited
Resource a slide presentation by Mr. Rick Dent, Executive Director of
the Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District (a.k.a. Encon).
• The Mayor introduced Mr. Rick Dent (who received his Master of Science
Degree in Water Resources from the University of North Dakota) noting
that the Executive Director has been with the Loxahatchee River District
for 17 years. Prior to joining the District, Mr. Dent was affiliated
with the Consulting Engineering Firm of William M. Bishop.
During the slide presentation, Mr. Rick Dent noted that, in the early
1980's, faced with water management problems, they came up with a solu-
tion -- the utilities system which serves Juno Beach, Jupiter, Tequesta
and areas in Northern Palm Beach County and Southern Martin County.
This presentation, showing the layout of the necessary 8" to 24" PVC
piping installed in approximately 20 miles of undeveloped areas at an
approximate cost of $2.86 million dollars, gave an overview of Encon
which system presently provides a reuse water program for irrigating
eight area golf courses. Mr. Dent, noting that it would be more costly
to install the necessary PVC piping in a congested area such as Highland
Beach which would involve disturbing driveways, vegetation, other under-
ground utilities, etc., advised that the reuse program reduces ground-
water withdrawal and recharges the aquifer. The reuse water program,
per Mr. Dent, presently supplies irrigation quality water to single
family and multiple family residences in St. Petersburg. Mr. Dent
advised that the operating and maintaining costs of providing such
irrigation quality water total 11.1 cents per 1,000 gallons.
Executive Director Rick Dent explained that initially, Encon expended a
total of $5.6 million for the 6 mgd system, which total included the
necessary mechanism to upgrade the system to 9 mgd at an additional cost
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Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
September 21, 1990
Page 2 of 4
of but $2.1 million. The Executive Director noted that, while this is
not an economical venture, this program will pay for itself--it is
anticipated that the capital costs will be repaid within six years.
Mr. Rick Dent advised that Jupiter is putting in a 6 mgd Reverse Osmosis
Treatment Plant and is therefore looking at a capital expenditure of
$12.5 million which will also house the 'guts' for another 6 mgd which
will be less costly than the first 6 mgd; they are looking at expending
approximately $20 million.
At this point, Mr. Rick Dent, noting he is not here to tell Highland
Beach what to do as the Town has Consultants who can advise in such
matters, entertained questions.
In regard to an inquiry as to his suggestion for residential I Q uses,
(inasmuch as the Town uses approximately 43% for ground irrigation) Mr.
Rick Dent replied "it was limited because we selected golf courses and
have not had the opportunity to serve other types of customers; however,
getting the I Q water on the lawns is the best use."
When questioned as to how often the membranes in a Reverse Osmosis
system have to be changed, Mr. Rick Dent responded that "it is a good
question but there was no answer because they are not in operation that
long and there is no track record."
When Mayor Boulay noted that in computing the costs (we are talking
about costs of I Q vs. R/O), you can drink all of the R/O but you can't
drink any of the I Q; Mr. Dent's response was "Correct. Your point is
valid. If you need the extra water for consumption, then reuse is not
for you. The Mayor further noted that "with I Q, you need not only a
treatment capability for I Q, you need separate pipes to get it out to
your customers; there are two costs. With R/0, you are looking only at
the treatment costs--you do not need the pipes."
Chairman A. G. Voress of the Water Resources Advisory Board asked a
number of questions with regard to the program as it relates to the area
serviced by Encon. When Mr. Voress questioned if the I Q water is
subject to the Water Management District Regulations (i.e. the recent
restrictions imposed regarding irrigation), Mr. Rick Dent responded
"they are not--they are exempt." Chairman Voress then inquired if the
wastewater treatment process removes the iron from the water--Mr. Dent
answered "it does not; if it is there, it is taken out at the water
plant." Mr. Dent stated that there is no staining problem with I Q
water.
Mr. Richard Brunton, Water Resources Advisory Board Member, questioned
the possibility of perhaps carving out certain sections of the Town with
• regard to the piping necessary for the I Q water.
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Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
September 21, 1990
Page 3 of 4
When Mr. Michael Dent of Casuarina questioned the total of Encon's both
systems when the new plant comes on board, Executive Director Rick Dent
advised it would be 16 mgd. Mr. Michael Dent, noting the Town consumes
about 1 to 1.2 mgd, cited the fact that talk about a second line of
piping (required for the I Q water) going through Town would cost about
$4 million because of the very built up area involving driveways, etc.,
as compared to a cost of a little over $3 million for putting in a
Reverse Osmosis plant to produce 1 to 1.2 mgd. for a period of
approximately ten years. Mr. Michael Dent stated he could not see the
Town spending $3-$4 million to install a second line to distribute water
for irrigating the grass; the Town is a small entity and it would not be
profitable to invest too much money into capital apart from operating
expenses until the Town can join with others and get a regional plant
which would maybe make it worthwhile.
Executive Director Rick Dent said the important factors for the Town
to consider are:
1. the cost of installing the piping to get the water to all
residents;
• 2. what's the availability of I Q water to your community; and
3. how much are your residents willing to pay for this water?
Mr. Rick Dent stated "water is extremely undervalued and we all take
water for granted; communities in South Florida will have to become
attuned to the fact that we do not charge enough money for water - the
cost of water will have to be increased."
Vice Mayor Paul questioned the cost to each individual subscriber for
hooking up to an I Q water system. Mr. Rick Dent noted that the indi-
vidual subscriber to Encon is a big golf course where the Town's would
be individual residents that require a lot more connections including a
need for back-flow preventers; in the single family or a condominium
where the irrigation system presently hooks into the potable water
system, the back-flow preventer would have to be installed at that point
and you would want a check valve where the I Q water hooks on to the
property. Regarding the required separation between the two lines, the
Executive Director advised that a space of 5' between the two lines is
now required.
Commissioner Chambers, noting St. Petersburg is the national model for
this process, stated they must have found an economical way to make the
I Q water system work.
Commissioner Stewart, questioning the Jupiter facility discussed earlier
by Mr. Rick Dent, was advised by the Executive Director that Encon spent
• $5.6 million for a system that handles 6 mgd. In spending that $5.6
million they also included some of the components to accommodate the 9
mgd and they project it will cost $2 million to build the final 3 mgd
capacity (or $7.5 million in total expenditure for a 9 mgd system). Mr.
Dent advised that amounts to less than $l./gallon installed capacity.
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• Town Commission Special Meeting Minutes
September 21, 1990
Page 4 of 4
Mr. Dent further advised that the golf courses pay Encon 20 to 27 cents
per 1,000 gallon.
When Commissioner Stewart questioned if this process requires a large
amount of electricity to run the facility, Mr. Dent advised the cost is
2.2 cents per 1,000 gallons for power (they have an I Q water pump
station at the plant similar to the water plant pump station that
distributes the water to the home). The Town may be looking at a higher
cost for power simply because it may want to push it harder (perhaps at
50 lbs. per square inch). Mr. Dent also advised that the Town may need
storage for the I Q water.
On behalf of the Town Commission and citizens of the Town, the Mayor
extended thanks to Mr. Rick Dent for his presentation.
Upon MOTION by VICE MAYOR PAUL/COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS, Mayor Boulay
adjourned the Special Meeting of the Town Commission at 2:45 P.M.
APPROVED:
J s e h A~. Bo~Zl ay: Mayes
ATTEST s
Date•
amk `" - l
Bill Paul, Vice Mayor
Ma n A. Waldman, Commissioner
Bet ,' ommissioner
;,
d ambers, Commissioner