Full Article

Water service for the Estates — why?

When it comes to water services for the Estates, District 5 Collier County Commissioner Jim Coletta has one response — why?"Why would you want it?" asks Coletta, who lives off 17th Avenue SW.

"It would be extremely expensive. Their first estimates are $107,000 a house, but even if it were $30,000, why would you want it?" Last month, county officials unveiled the Collier County East of CR 951 Services and Infrastructure Horizon Study, which outlines three levels for area services including transportation, emergency response, library, parks, law enforcement and schools.

Coletta says when he approved $200,000 for the preliminary study, he had no idea it would also include research on bringing water and wastewater services to the area.

"That's my fault for not asking more questions," he says. "All that money spent on a consultant to come up with these numbers. Even if it would work, no one could afford it." The study's service levels included "status quo" (as is),"intermediate" and "premium." The status quo option for water and wastewater service showed continued use of septic tanks and private wells. Officials stated this option costs the county nothing, but the use of septic tanks would adversely influence the ground water quality over time.

Coletta says he doubts that is a serious concern given the low density of the Estates.

The intermediate level of service would bring water and wastewater services to the urban Estates, a mile-wide strip of avenues running east and west off 39th Street and Weber Boulevard. The area is included in the county's water-sewer district boundaries.

The cost for the intermediate option would be over $145 million. That would be $37,000 per household for water and $70,000 per household for wastewater for a total of $107,000 per homeowner.

A premium level of service to bring water and sewer services to all of the Estates area, approximately 80 square miles, would cost the county over $900 million and over $111,000 per property owner. A water only option for the entire Estates area would cost each homeowner $41,485.

Last month, county officials unveiled the Collier County East of CR 951 Services and Infrastructure Horizon Study, which outlines three levels for area services including transportation, emergency response, library, parks, law enforcement and schools. The intermediate level of service would bring water and wastewater services to the urban Estates, a mile-wide strip of avenues running east and west off 39th Street and Weber Boulevard. The area is included in the county's water-sewer district boundaries.

Collier Citizen

Last month, county officials unveiled the Collier County East of CR 951 Services and Infrastructure Horizon Study, which outlines three levels for area services including transportation, emergency response, library, parks, law enforcement and schools. The intermediate level of service would bring water and wastewater services to the urban Estates, a mile-wide strip of avenues running east and west off 39th Street and Weber Boulevard. The area is included in the county's water-sewer district boundaries.

Officials also suggested a fire service-only water option that would extend pipelines from existing water mains or utilize a system of"dry" hydrants connected to canals or ponds with locations for tankers or fire trucks to access water.

Officials said because most of the Estates area is outside the county's water-sewer district, the fire districts would have to take the lead on this option.

One year ago, county staff met with Golden Gate Fire & Rescue officials to discuss the possibility of creating a waterline to loop with the county's upcoming regional water plant north of OrangeTree to create a back up supply.

While fire officials maintain there is a definite need for hydrants, Golden Gate Assistant Fire Chief Dave Anderson said current county ordinances pertaining to the Rural Fringe agreement do not allow water line extension beyond Big Cypress Elementary School. He also questioned how the cost of the project, estimated at $60,000-$70,000 per mile, would be funded.

Anderson said the residential cost of building the lines might be offset by lowered insurance rates for those connected to the system.

Homeowners residing in neighborhoods with hydrants or nearby fire stations pay lower insurance premiums based on an International Standards Organization rating from 1-10. He estimated the savings at $200 to $300 a year, but said those costs would need to be verified.

A fourth option in the county's study suggested waterlines could be extended into the Estates area by expanding the commercial activity currently allowed in the Golden Gate Master Plan.

County staff suggested polling Estates residents as to what level of services they desire. Coletta countered that more should be done to educate homeowners on the options before asking them to make those decisions. Instead, he suggested a committee be established and a consultant hired to work with the committee to hold a series of public forums on future service levels for the Estates.

Coletta said public response to the early study results has been mixed.

"The study is needed to avert a major disaster down the road," he says. "Those residents who are in the know realize that things need to be put together to get things done."

Further reading at www.sfwmd.gov