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BOOK , 0 [-° A 4Z <br />A STUDY ON USE OF RECLAIMED WATER ON CITRUS GROVES <br />Environmental Specialist John Lang made the staff presenta- <br />tinn- <br />DATE: SEPTEMBER 15, 1989 <br />TO: JAMES E. CHANDLER <br />COUNTY ADMINISTRATO <br />FROM: TERRANCE G. PINT <br />i <br />DIRECTOR OF UTIL RVICES <br />SUBJECT: A STUDY ON USE OF RECLAIMED WATER ON CITRUS <br />GROVES <br />PREPARED AND STAFFED BY: JOHN FREDERICK LANG <br />ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIAL ST <br />DEPARTMENT OF UTILITY SERVICES <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Department of Utility Services, in its Sewer Master Plan, <br />identified grove irrigation as a methodology of effluent disposal. <br />It is currently accepted practice to irrigate groves with industrial <br />wastewater of various types in the coastal plain counties; however, <br />domestic effluent to date has only been a proven practice on the <br />sand ridges of the interior of the state and California. The - <br />Department, working in conjunction with St. Johns River Water <br />Management District, The University Of Florida, and the Indian River <br />=Citrus League, have devised a study that will demonstrate the <br />effects of such irrigation practices from a water quality and <br />quantity basis on coastal citrus groves. <br />ANALYSIS <br />The University of Florida will perform the study and St. Johns River <br />Water Management District will fund the study at a cost of <br />$305,976.00 over three years. The Department of Utility Services is <br />expected to furnish equipment at a cost of $76,500.00. The <br />irrigation system portion of the equipment will cost $35,000, with <br />the rest being utilized for testing instruments and a personal <br />computer to record and transfer data. The study will confirm the <br />benefits of effluent reuse on citrus groves and encourage the local <br />grove owners to make long term commitments for effluent uptake. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />The Department of Utility Services recommends that the Board of <br />County Commissioners execute the interlocal agreement between St. <br />Johns River Water Management District, Indian River County and -the <br />University of Florida. In addition, the Department recommends that <br />the Board authorize the spending of not more than $80,000.00 for <br />equipment for this project to be funded from the Account <br />No. 471-000-166-002.00. <br />Mr. Lang explained that the interlocal agreement is to <br />institute a study for wastewater reuse on the coastal plain. <br />There have been studies on the sand ridge in the Orlando area, <br />but in order to allay the fears of the Citrus League and various <br />39 <br />