Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 - (Page 45)

Low profile E/One station cover provides easy access to grinder pump. way, storm water and water infiltration studies for Ginn on this project,” he said. The property is divided by County Road 455. On one side is Bella Collina East, where the sewage treatment plant is sited. Bella Collina West is on the other side of this county road which contains the golf course. “The plant was built by Ginn but is owned and operated by the Pine Island Community Development District (CDD). The lift station sited there pumps wastewater and sludge from residences and the golf course facilities to the treatment plant through trunk lines under the road,” said Steve Besley, MER&B’s current project manager. Because the property is split by County Road 455, two trunk mains were required — one from the east side, the other from the west. “Designs were done by MER&B for vacuum, gravity, and low pressure sewage systems to determine the best and most cost effective scheme. The site has over 160 feet of elevation change. The area adjacent to Lake Apopka, on the east side of the property, contains lots that are 10 to 12 feet below the level of the road,” Besley added. Early in the project planning stage, a former Senior VP at Ginn shared information about E/One’s low pressure sewage system with others at the company. He had read a trade publication piece about the technology, its functional advantages, and cost benefits. After review and because of the topography, the system was selected for use at Bella Collina. “E/One’s equipment maintains a steady rate of pressure over a given range, necessitating only one lift station. Seven or eight expensive lift stations would have been needed with a gravity system. It allowed for flexibility in design and was the best in relation to cost as well,” commented Summit. “The system also proved to be more cost effective than the other choices.” Putting the Plan in Play Establishing the CDD simplified the process and timeline for installation of the sewer, water and power infrastructure. It also authorizes an assessment to be charged and additionally allows the developer to sell bonds that offsets the upfront and overall cost of the project. Potable water for the region originates in underground aquifers. Wells are drilled 2,000 to 3,000 feet through deep sand beds to reach the water source. Because water shortage is a problem in Florida, Bella Collina was required to get a consumptive use permit. Conditions of the permit mandated a plan for efficiency of water usage, alternative forms of irrigation and water conservation. It includes drip irrigation to control water usage at residential housing and in common areas. The plan also incorporates landscaping at home sites and common areas that diminish runoff and the use of reclaimed water from the treatment plant for irrigating common areas as well. The preferred builder program at Bella Collina permits land owners to choose one of eight builders that were previously selected and approved by Ginn. There are architectural and specification guidelines for homes being built and construction must be completed within a pre-specified time from the date of land purchase. “Installation of the grinder pump station and lateral pipe line at each house to a subdivision road where the trunk line runs is done by the installers. Utility technicians do the grinder pump station installation and connection hookup during final stages of home construction. They work for all the builders and also have a service contract with the CDD,” stated Victoria Schmidt, of Water Resources Technologies (WRT), the local authorized distributor of E/One products and service. “WRT does the start-ups of the pump station installed at each residence and other applications — golf course comfort stations, maintenance buildings, etc. It is responsible for providing service and repair on behalf of the installer. The trunk line in the road was installed during the infrastructure stage. Once connected, the sludge is sent from the grinder pump through the lateral pipe to the trunk line and onto the to the lift station before being pumped to the sewage treatment plant,” Schmidt said. The sewer system requires only a shallow trench and much smaller-diameter piping. Unlike conventional gravity central sewers, which can use up to 24inch pipe and require deep excavation, the system minimizes destruction of the landscape. In addition to the installation and operation savings, it requires less maintenance and delivers big results. Both the gravity sewer system and the specialized, low-pressure system are known as central sewer systems. Most cities and many villages use central sewering, which means that waste is transferred, usually by a pipe or main, to a central treatment plant. Gravity sewers are the “original” central sewers, with origins in the Roman aqueducts. Unfortunately, the technology behind gravity sewers is also centuries-old. They’re bulky systems using a large main and can require major excavation to install. They must be accurately placed and bedded along a continuous downward grade. Plus, they’re expensive and not entirely efficient in transporting waste. The E/One system employs tried and true technology and has become known for its reliability as it performs dependably day in and day out and is cost effective with minimal maintenance, low upfront costs and reduced operating expenses. Its ability to be installed at any site, regardless of the challenges of topography, is helping to bring a vision of Tuscany to central Florida. SLDT Photos courtesy of Water Resource Technologies. About the author: Bill Nestor, a freelance writer living in the hills of Vermont, can be reached at nestor@sover.net www.SLDTonline.com 45 http://www.SLDTonline.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 Contents Our Voice Editorial Board SLDT Resources Addressing a Crisis with Wastewater Recycling Visionary Award Finalists The Jonquil City - How a City Revitalized its Downtown Industry Spotlight: Enviroquip Solar Power System Design and Installation Stormwater: The Return of the Cistern Site Amenity: Fiber Optics Surveying and Mapping Wastewater: Low-Pressure System Special Feature: The Urban Canopy as Infrastructure Industry News Advertiser Index Products/Services Showcase Classifieds The Last Word: Nature Bats Last…

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

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