The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to award a professional services contract to AECOM, Inc. to provide evaluation and planning for a Countywide Wastewater Master Plan.

The Countywide Wastewater Master Plan will provide a comprehensive analysis of the county’s existing wastewater collection systems, wastewater treatment facilities, wastewater flows and alternatives for septic system conversions within the unincorporated County. The plan will be developed in cooperation with municipalities and partner agencies.

This is a cooperative effort with two departments – Lee County Utilities and the Department of Natural Resources – to support improving water quality and enhance environmental protection. The CWMP will include elements to satisfy requirements for the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), future adopted or updated BMAPs and Senate Bill 712 – Florida Clean Waterways Act.

The CWMP will evaluate the number of on-site septic systems and future population projection demands in order to provide a list of capital improvement projects to support responsible septic conversion. A list of priorities & recommendations will include different methods for septic conversion, estimated costs for capital projects, and possible funding sources for the projects.

The $724,313.30 contract with AECOM was awarded through competitive negotiation. The Board approved the project funding as part of the FY21 Utilities Capital Improvement Program. The work is expected to begin this fall and be completed by the end of 2022.

For more information on the commitment of the Lee Board of County Commissioners to water quality, visit www.leegov.com/water.

Source: Lee County Government