HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021 10 06 Letter to SJRWMD RE Consumptive Use Permit No 105763-1 Compliance Item Number 1426293 (Parkstone Artesian Well) � 1 d CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
u 9l 1126 EAST STATE ROAD 434
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,. � TELEPHONE:(407)327-1800
FACSIMILE:(407)327-4753
WEBSITE:www.winterspringsfl.org
October 6, 2021
Douglass Hearn,Senior Hydrologist PG/PE
Division of Regulatory Services
St.John's Water Management District
4049 Reid Street
Palatka, FL 32177
RE: Consumptive Use Permit Number 105763-1
Compliance Item Number 1426293
Dear Mr. Hearn;
This is in response to your letter dated July 30,2021 requesting the City of Winter Springs(City)to provide
the St.Johns River Water Management District (District)with an evaluation of the feasibility of utilizing a
free-flowing artesian well located on property owned by the Parkstone Homeowner's Association to
supplement/replace the source water for our Lake Jesup surface water augmentation plant.
On September 9,2021,the City met with you and other District staff to discuss your letter.At the meeting,
the City explained that it has struggled with the Lake Jesup Plant beginning with its construction in 2013
due to turbidity levels in the lake. In fact,the plant in its current state is non-operable. Hurricane damage
and non-documented modifications to the plant have made the evaluation of its future viability difficult.
The City previously engaged Veolia, Inc. to make repairs to the plant that would allow the City to begin
the process of determining the next steps for placing this plant back in service. However, after several
months it was determined that the extent of the repairs and dysfunction of the plant was far beyond
replacing pumps and electrical panels. Thus,_ an additional engineering evaluation of the plant was
deemed necessary and the City is in the process of hiring Carollo Engineering to conduct an in-depth
evaluation of the plant.
This pending evaluation will determine the viability of the plant and whether an alternative water source
may hold the answers to this critical piece of infrastructure being part of the City's future sustainable
water program.The targeted date for the completion of this in-depth evaluation will be early summer of
2022.
Our timeline for the completion of this in-depth evaluation has been hampered by delays in the supply
chain due to COVID-19 and emergencies at three of our four waste water treatment facilities (as
documented by FDEP). However, we are committed to completing the evaluation of this facility and the
final determination of whether it is feasible and necessary for the City to pursue the use of the artesian
well. As this well has likely been free flowing for hundreds of years,the City is only asking for an additional
14 months to determine if the well is needed to supplement the irrigation plant. This is an important
Sq.`..
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA
1126 EAST STATE ROAD 434
WINTER SPRINGS,FLORIDA 32708-2799
-ORIONTELEPHONE:(407)327-1800
FACSIMILE:(407)327-4753
WEBSITE:www.winterspringsfl.org
partnership between St. John's and the City, and the two parties have a combined investment of nearly
$2.5 million dollars in this alternative water supply project, not to mention the serious need to solve the
ever-increasing water challenges that the State is facing over the next ten years.
Therefore, in response to your letter, we propose extending the deadline for the City to complete its
evaluation of the feasibility of utilizing the artesian well to December 31, 2022. This deadline will allow
Carollo Engineering to complete its in depth analysis of the plant. Obviously, use of the artesian well is
dependent on the solution developed by our consultant. To keep you informed as to the status of this
analysis,we propose providing you quarterly reports on the progress of the Carollo investigation and any
subsequent artesian well feasibility study.
We greatly appreciate your consideration on this matter and look forward to working with you in the
future. If there is anything further you need please don't hesitate to reach out to me at 407-327-1800.
Respectfully,
Shawn 5 e
City Manager,Winter Springs
cc:Anthony A. Garganese
Edward de la Parte,Jr.
Jason Norberg
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