North Santa Rosa Regional Water Reclamation Facility

Need

• The City of Milton operates a wastewater system that serves 43,000 acres (67 mi2) in the City of Milton, Berryhill area, East Milton, NAS Whiting Field and Munson area.

• The service area also consists of all economic development sites currently available in Central Santa Rosa County, including Whiting Aviation Park and parcels along the I-10 corridor.

Need

• The current wastewater treatment facility is nearing maximum capacity in terms of gallons of effluent treated daily. Any large development will require capacity that cannot be met. This would effectively prohibit any new project within the City of Milton service Area.

Need

• The current facility is permitted for 2.5 MGD. The plant is averaging 2.2 MGD. During times of heavy rainfall or other surges, the plant exceeds the permitted amount. Treated effluent is directly discharged into the Blackwater River.

• Expansion at the existing site is not feasible due to regulatory constraints and site conditions. However, the County’s population and household count continue to increase at a substantial rate.

• Substantial investments have been made at the existing plant. Despite these upgrades, the existing 2.5 MGD capacity will be fully consumed by 2024 at the latest.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Overview

• To meet the growing demand for wastewater treatment capacity and to reduce the discharge of effluent into the Blackwater River, the City of Milton is proposing to construct, own and operate the new North Santa Rosa Regional Water Reclamation Facility (NSRRWRF).

• Construction of the first phase of a new wastewater plant in East Milton will provide an additional 2.0 MGD capacity, bringing the total system up to 4.5 MGD.

• The system will also remove 100% of the treated effluent from the Blackwater River when completed.

Project Location

• The proposed wastewater treatment facility will be located just north of the Santa Rosa Industrial Park on City of Milton property. The effluent disposal portion of the project begins at the City of Milton Wastewater treatment plant located within the City of Milton in Santa Rosa County, and terminates at the effluent disposal site located north of Naval Air Station Whiting Field.

Project Location

• Located in Central Santa Rosa County. • Adjacent to County Industrial Parks:

• The NWFL Industrial Park at I-10• The Highway 87 Industrial Park• The Santa Rosa Industrial Park East• The New Whiting Aviation Park

• Each location is Florida First Certified Site with “ready to-go” capability.

Budget

• Revenue:• City of Milton (Design-Permit) $1,778,464• City of Milton (Construction) $15,720,000• Santa Rosa County Phase II $6,500,000• FL Legislative Appropriation $500,000• Triumph Gulf Coast (pending) $6,000,000

• Total: $30,498,464

Budget

• Expenses:• Design & Permitting $1,943,375• Reuse & Disposal Construction $7,083,725• Whiting Field SSFM Construction $1,446,520• NSRRWRF Plant Construction $20,041,400

• Total Cost: $30,514,670

Budget

• Expenses: $30,514,670• Revenue: $30,498,464

• Deficit: -$16,206

With the Restore Allocation and a successful Triumph Grant Application, this project is effectively fully funded.

KEY FACTORS

Eligibility

• The City of Milton NSRRWRF Project meets the following eligible activities as defined in the Restore Act:

• Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast Region

• Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources

• Workforce development and job creation

• Infrastructure projects benefitting the economy or ecological resources, including port infrastructure

Organizational Capacity

• The City of Milton meets all organizational requirements to receive funds as required by the Restore Act.

• The City was established in 1844 and is an incorporated, home-rule local government recognized by the State of Florida. The City is governed by a Council-Manager form of government.

• The financial status of the City of Milton is sound. The net position of the City of Milton is currently at $38.4 million, including $26.2 million capital assets, $5.1 million restricted for future obligations and $7.1 million in unrestricted funds. Currently, the General Fund Reserve has approximately $3.4 million or six months of operating expenditures.

• Operation of the City of Milton’s wastewater treatment facility is supported by an Enterprise Fund. As necessary, wastewater treatment fees will be increased to assure an adequate revenue.

• The City of Milton is planning the construction of a solar array to help reduce energy costs at the plant. The cost of the Solar Array Green Project is not part of the program cost for NSRRWRF.

Environmental Need & Impact

The NSRRWRF program will serve to enhance and protect the environment:• Every day, the Milton WWTP discharges 2.0 – 2.5 million gallons of treated sanitary effluent into

the “pristine sand-bottom” Blackwater River. With the new plant, the City will ultimately be able to reduce 100% of this discharge.

• The new plant will be in the vicinity of the wellfield protection zone in East Milton. Fourteen production wells in this zone produce raw water that supplies 70,000 residents of south Santa Rosa County. Over 6,000 residential units in this area currently on septic systems will have the opportunity to convert to sanitary sewer.

• The availability of re-use water created by the new plant will assist many potential economic development projects. The Solar Array Green Project will decrease dependence of the new plant on conventional electricity providers.

Planned Timing and Shovel-Readiness

• The NSRRWRF is fully designed and permitted. • The property for the new facility, transmission lines and spray-field is

currently owned by the City of Milton.• Approximately 70% of all necessary funding is allocated and available

for the project.• The remaining funds will be secured in calendar year 2020.• The City has ordered a permit, design and cost review and update for

project engineers in order to commence construction in 2021.

Planned Timing and

Shovel-Readiness

Legacy Project

• The NSRRWRF provides the foundation for Santa Rosa County’s future population and economic growth.

• Without additional wastewater treatment capacity, the County’s ability to recruit or expand businesses and industry is stymied, including the military mission at NAS Whiting Field.

• New residential developments will be required to utilize septic systems, jeopardizing our natural environment.

• The new plant will serve the community for the next 40-50 years.

Historical Efforts

• The City of Milton has spent $18,443,238 in the past 15 years to upgrade and modernize the existing wastewater treatment plant to ensure maximization of the full 2.5 MGD permitted capacity.

• Planning for the new NSRRWRF began in 2008.

Risk Mitigation

• If this project does not receive Restore Funding, the City of Milton will continue to pursue all other funding opportunities available. The City fully intends to commence the project in early 2021.

• The alternatives to not carrying out the NSRRWRF through to completion would be an economic and environmental disaster for Santa Rosa County.

North Santa Rosa Regional Water Reclamation Facility