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As many of us know, Lee County is dealing with the many challenges of growth in our area. LCU is no different and has also had to face these challenges in order to provide you with our most precious resource, water. With the anticipation of growth and the increasing demand for water, LCU has taken these challenges and looked toward solutions. The solutions to water supply lie not only with finding new resources, but with water storage, the use of reclaimed water, and water conservation. These solutions are called alternative water supplies, all of which LCU is utilizing.
Alternative Water Supplies
As fresh water aquifers are being stressed and the demand for water keeps increasing, LCU had to look at building an additional water plant using an alternative water source. This project was the completion of our new 5 million gallon per day (mgd) North Lee County Water Treatment Plant. This new plant will be using the technology of reverse osmosis and using source water from the Lower Hawthorne aquifer. This plant is located in North Ft. Myers and will be used to serve customers in the north section of our service area. Knowing that demand will be there, this plant can and will be expanded to 10 mgd within the next 2 years. The cost to build this plant was approximately $32 million.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Wells
In Lee county we experience a wet season and a dry season. During the dry season, demands are at their highest due to high irrigation use, seasonal residents, and spring visitors, but during the wet season the demands are low. To take advantage of this, LCU captures and stores that extra water during the wet season and then uses it during the dry season. This is the concept of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR). This process allows us to treat water during the wet season and store it in the ground to be recovered during the dry season. ASR utilizes aquifers to be used as underground storage tanks. The treated water is pumped into an aquifer with a salinity higher than the treated water. This creates a huge "bubble" of fresh water that is contained within the surrounding saline water. When the dry season returns, we are able to pump the treated water back out of the ASR and blend it back with the water being produced at the plant.
Reclaimed Water
Another way to help reduce the amount of water being produced is by using reclaimed water for irrigation. Reclaimed water is treated effluent from a wastewater treatment plant. This water must meet stringent limits set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency along with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Currently, about 61% of our wastewater effluent is being used for irrigation purposes. This water is used to irrigate such places as common areas in housing developments and golf courses. LCU understands the importance of using reclaimed water to reduce the amount of potable water being used for irrigation and is connecting new reuse customers every year.
Water Conservation
The easiest and most economical alternative water supply is water conservation. By conserving water, it reduces the demand for LCU to seek and pay for alternative water supplies. LCU knows that as demands keep increasing, fresh water supplies keep decreasing and we will have to look to the Gulf of Mexico as our water supply. The Gulf of Mexico will be a unlimited source, but it will come at a price. Even though technology has allowed us to convert salt water to potable water, the process is costly and these costs will have to be consumed by the customers. Conserving now will help to slow the need to have to look to the Gulf of Mexico, thus keeping the cost of water low.
©2005 Lee County Official Website
Lee County Utilities Information: (239) 936-0247
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