News Update
Cost-share project to benefit Banana River Lagoon water quality
Staff report
Enviro-Net
A three-phase septic-to-sewer and stormwater treatment project in Merritt Island will benefit water quality in the Indian River Lagoon and the Banana River Lagoon, according to officials with the St. Johns River Water Management District.
“We’re proud to partner on projects that provide effective solutions to protecting water quality,” said SJRWMD Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “This water quality project is expected to capture approximately 2,500 pounds a year of nitrogen and 825 pounds a year of phosphorus before it can reach the Banana River Lagoon, benefiting water quality for decades to come.”
During the project’s initial phase, 23 commercial properties abandoned their septic systems and connected to Brevard County’s sewer system.
Phase two involves constructing stormwater treatment infrastructure and a water quality treatment train that will pipe an existing ditch, divert untreated stormwater to a treatment pond through a bioswale and retrofit the outfall with a denitrification bioreactor.
Phase two also includes a sanitary sewer main to serve approximately 60 parcels in the Cone Road industrial area.
Phase three includes abandonment of the 60 septic tanks and connecting the parcels to the sewer main constructed under Phase two.
By eliminating over 80 septic tanks, the improvements to groundwater quality will be significant as will the reduction of nutrients going into the Banana River and Indian River lagoons, according to Larry Lallo, executive director of the Merritt Island Redevelopment Agency.
District cost-share funds constitute approximately $912,000 of the $2.8 million construction cost, which includes the stormwater improvements and connecting commercial properties to the county’s sewer system.