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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 +r-~ ' . 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. i ,. 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. ''!` . . , • 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