KEY LARGO WASTEWATER TREATMENT DISTRICT

The Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District was created by the State of Florida in June 2002. The KLWTD Board Members were elected in November 2002. The KLWTD is an Independent Utility District.

Project Purpose and Scope
The Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District Regional Wastewater Project originated from a recognition of the need to eliminate septic tanks and illegal cesspits that exist within the District’s boundaries in order to restore the health and economic vitality of its nearshore waters. The purpose of this facilities plan is to define the most cost-effective, environmentally sound, and simplest implemented program for the management of existing and future wastewater pollutants that act, or will act, to deteriorate the Keys’ water quality in the Key Largo area. This plan is consistent with the Comprehensive Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan for Monroe County (CH2MHILL, 2000) in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) guidelines under PL 92-500 and the Monroe County Year 2010 Comprehensive Plan. This Facilities Plan has been adopted by the KLWTD to guide the design and construction of the KLWTD wastewater infrastructure.

 
Project Description
This proposed project provides an affordable long term solution to meeting the 2010 wastewater treatment goals. To determine the best approach various technologies and various configurations of service areas were examined. The Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District (KLWTD) service area is defined as the north end of the Florida Keys at the Dade County line (approximately: US1 mile marker 124) extending south and westward to Tavernier Creek (approximately: US1 mile marker 91) and includes the properties to the east of US 1 along County Road 905 up to but not including the community of Ocean Reef. The remote, sparsely populated areas north and east of mile marker 106.5 will be served by a decentralized sewer system. The remaining area from mile marker 106.5 south to miler marker 91 are to be served by central wastewater treatment plant located at mile marker 100.5. This area is the overall service area addressed in this Facilities Plan. The Monroe County Comprehensive Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan divides this area into Planning Area Analysis/ Enumeration Districts (PAED’s). The KLWTD area includes PAED 15 through PAED 20. Portions of PAED 17, 18, 19 and 20 have already been completed. The entire service area is shown in figure 1-1, individual service area maps follow in figures 1-2 through 1-12. The PAED areas have been further subdivided into lettered service basins including A through K. These sub basins will be the basis of cost estimating for this document.
 
Initially, the Monroe County Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan collection system alternatives were re-evaluated using updated materials quantities and current unit prices. It was determined that in most areas vacuum collection systems are the most cost effective method for wastewater collection. In three remote areas, however, a gravity collection system that pumps directly into the US1 force main is the most economical alternative. The large number of service basins which would each require a separate wastewater treatment facility, disposal wells, land acquisition, and licensed operator makes a centralized wastewater treatment and disposal facility the most practical and affordable alternative. This conclusion is similar to that reached in the Monroe Count Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan.
 
Service Basin Briefs
The following service area briefs give a description of each service area and the selected collection system alternative for each.
 
Service Basin A includes the Sexton Cove, Lake Surprise, Largo Highlands, Ocean Isle Estates subdivisions and the commercial properties adjacent to US 1. The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .131 MGD. A vacuum collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility has been determined to be the most cost-effective means of providing wastewater service for this area.
 
Service Basin B includes the following subdivisions: Stillwright Point, Taylor Creek Village, Paradise Point Cove, Riviera Village, Largo Sound Village, and Anglers’ Park (approximately: US1 mile marker 105 to Adams Waterway). The commercial properties along US 1 are included in the service area. The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .248 MGD. A vacuum collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility has been determined to be the most cost-effective means of providing wastewater service for this area.
 
Service Basin C includes Bermuda Shores, Cross Key Waterway, Largo Sound Park, Anglers’ Park Shores, South Creek Village, and Twin Lakes subdivisions and the commercial properties along US 1 (Adams Waterway to Approximately US1 mile marker 102.5). The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .144 MGD. A vacuum collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility has been determined to be the most cost-effective means of providing wastewater service for this area.
 
Service Basin D includes the Largo Gardens and Bahia Mar Estates subdivisions, John Pennekamp State Park and commercial properties along US 1 (approximately: US1 mile marker 102.5 to mile marker 101). The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .123 MGD. A vacuum collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility has been determined to be the most cost-effective means of providing wastewater service for this area.
 
Service Basin E includes the Key Largo Village, Key Largo Park and Sunset Waterways subdivisions, Calusa Campground and commercial areas from US1 mile marker 101 to mile marker 100. The bay (north) side of US 1 has an existing vacuum collection system with estimated wastewater flows of .177 MGD. The remainder of the service area on the ocean (south) side of US 1 has a year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .055 MGD. It has been determined that the ocean side of this service basin is best served by a gravity collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility.
 
Service Basin F includes the Buttonwood Shores, Holiday Homesites, Port Largo, and Key Largo Beach subdivisions and commercial properties along US 1 (approximately: US1 mile marker 100 to mile marker 99.5). The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .344 MGD. A vacuum collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility has been determined to be the most cost-effective means of providing wastewater service for this area.
 
Service Basin G includes the Pirate’s Cove, Buccaneer Point, Point Pleasant, Lazy Lagoon, Thompson’s Subdivision, Sunset Cove, Marion Park, Harbor Shores, and Key Largo Ocean Shores subdivisions and commercial properties along US 1 (approximately: US1 mile marker 99.5 to mile marker 98.5). The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .285 MGD. A vacuum collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility has been determined to be the most cost-effective means of providing wastewater service for this area.
 
Service Basin H includes Mandalay, Rock Harbor, and The Harborage subdivisions and commercial properties from US1 mile marker 98.5 to mile marker 97. The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .107 MGD. It has been determined that this service basin is most economically served by a gravity collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility.
 
Service Basin I includes subdivisions: Wynken, Blynken & Nod, Silver Shores, Sunset Point, Lime Grove Estates, Sunrise Point, Seaside, Adobe Casa Court, Seven Acres, Dove Creek Estates, and Richard Park and commercial properties along US 1 (approximately: US1 mile marker 97 to mile marker 94). The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .174 MGD. It has been determined that this service basin is most economically served by a gravity collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility.
 
Service Basin J includes subdivisions Blue Water, Burton’s Yacht Basin, Harris Ocean Park, Palma Sola, and Ocean Park Village and commercial properties along US 1 (approximately: US1 mile marker 94 to mile marker 93). The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .080 MGD. A vacuum collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility has been determined to be the most cost-effective means of providing wastewater service for this area.
 
Service Basin K includes the Old Tavernier area, Tavernier Beach, Sunny Haven, Tavernier Heights, Tavernier Cove, Tavernier Ocean Shores, Sherill Park, Hammer Point, Tavernier Harbor, and Tavernier Park and the commercial properties along US 1 (approximately: US1 mile marker 93 to Tavernier Creek). The year 2015 estimated wastewater flows are .149 MGD. A vacuum collection system with treatment and disposal handled at the central wastewater treatment facility has been determined to be the most cost-effective means of providing wastewater service for this area.
 
Project Justification
The need for further reduction of human produced pathogen and nutrient loadings in the nearshore waters of the Florida Keys is well documented. Numerous studies have been funded and completed starting back in 1962 and running right through 1995.
 
The general consensus of several studies is that Anthropogenic nutrient loading as an increasing problem that is affecting the health and viability of nearshore marine communities in the Florida Keys. This project strives to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment in the KLWTD service area with long term solutions that will in turn improve coastal marine water quality in the area.