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We understand Wastewater is not fun to follow. Only two or three members of the public attended the special call wastewater meeting.
Wastewater challenges significantly impact costs to Village property owners. And imagine the potential crisis to our environment if we don’t get this right.
History: For five years, there have been periodic leaks, near MM92, in the wastewater pipeline that sends Islamorada raw sewage to the Key Largo Wastewater treatment facility at MM100. Engineers in Islamorada and Key Largo have had a difference of opinion on how to fix the problem, and so nothing was done and the leaks continued.
Consent Agreement: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) stepped in a few weeks ago demanding a fix… or fines. Major daily fines.
The Village was also mandated to create an Emergency Operations Manual to assure a plan in an emergency. Doesn’t any raw sewage leak in our fragile environment create an enormous emergency? Think about the possibility of a leak into the water - 7 bridges with the pipeline buried 45 feet below the channels.
Islamorada agreed to comply. Key Largo agreed to work with the Village, to allow Islamorada to move forward with their fix, without continued alternative preferences from the Key Largo engineers.
The Cost: At the meeting, Wade Trim engineer, Tom Brzezinski, outlined the proposed fix. The cost: at least $5.5 million, using 2-year-old estimates and ignoring potential payments to Key Largo resulting from the Islamorada changes. Brzezinski suggested the MM92 PVC pipes may have been installed improperly.
Key Largo: Peter Rosasco confirmed Key Largo and Islamorada are now on speaking terms and will work together.
Funding: The current wastewater budget was approved in September with an anticipated $750,000 deficit. The proposed $5.5 million fix was budgeted at $4,125,000 in September using grant funding already approved. The Village has requested $750,000 from the Florida Legislature in a 2026 appropriation request. But it appears the wastewater budget deficit is likely to increase without added revenue.
The recommendations in a 2022 wastewater rate study were never implemented. As an enterprise fund, wastewater revenues are supposed to be sufficient to cover all costs.
The wastewater fund has been operating at a deficit every year. Why?
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The rates paid by some, or all property owners, are not enough to operate and maintain the system.
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There are inefficiencies and flaws that must be corrected
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Possible design or installation errors
What’s next? No real decisions seemed to come out of the special call meeting.
The Islamorada Community Alliance will continue to search for facts and suggest solutions.
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