2/9/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOOK 88 FarF 812 well would not be used on a daily basis. Our effluent is secondarily treated effluent which can be applied to land, and when it became necessary we would put that type of effluent down the well. At a depth of 3,000 feet the water is probably 100 parts per million of chlorides, so we actually would be putting cleaner water into that deep well than is there normally. The effluent meets secondary wastewater treatment standards but is classified by the DER as industrial waste so the well must be designed as an industrial waste well. There is non-specific effluent which does not meet the requirements for irrigation but receives secondary treatment and can be put down the deep well. More importantly, the leachate from the landfill could be put down a deep well. Our leachate is not toxic but it is considered industrial waste. Commissioner Bird clarified that the deep well would be used when all others fail and our emphasis is going to be on ground application or other ways of disposing of it rather than down the well. David Refling, Malcolm-Pirnie Consultants, stated that he was involved with the County in the original discussions and decisions on effluent disposal. He assured the Board that Indian River County's effluent disposal system which consists of several alternatives is the most environmentally responsible and cost- effective method. Reuse for irrigation also saves potable water reserves. The County's methods of trying to combine the highly treated leachate with the effluent is a sound concept to keep the costs down and have an environmentally acceptable alternative. Director Pinto further explained that the backup well would be used at times, for example after a hurricane, when the primary methods are out of operation and are being corrected. The well will be double -lined and able to take some of the nasty things that industrial plants normally discharge. Director Pinto expects that our effluent disposal volume in this county is going to be in the range of 30 million gallons a day. With reuse for irrigation, percolation ponds and direct irrigation, the addition of this deep well will put us in a strong position to take care of our needs. Further discussion ensued regarding the various methods of effluent disposal. Commissioner Macht led discussion regarding this particular issue as well as other items which appear on the agenda involving large expenditures of taxpayers' money. He felt he needed more time to study the backup material which is provided by staff to make a decision. Receiving the material on a Wednesday for a meeting on the following Tuesday did not give him enough time to do research and confer with staff. 40