TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: First Amendment to the Agreement between the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and the City of North Port for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Permanent Facilities (N833).
Recommended Action
Approve the First Amendment to the Cooperative Funding Agreement No. 17CF00000449 between the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and the City of North Port for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Permanent Facilities (N833).
Background Information
The City’s ASR well project began in 1998 with cooperative funding from the SWFWMD. Since that time, the City has applied for continued cooperative funding each year for the project, providing a project work plan, funding availability, and schedule of tasks and deadlines to be completed each fiscal year. The information provided in each cooperative funding application forms the basis upon which each Cooperative Funding Agreement is based. The design and construction of the Permanent ASR Facilities was submitted to SWFWMD for cooperative funding and resulted in a Cooperative Funding Agreement which was approved by the City Commission on May 10, 2017. Permitting and bidding has been completed and the City is moving forward with construction anticipated to be completed in July 2018. The timing of the work plan is critical to the performance of Cycle Test 6, so the injection of water into the ASR well can be done during the rainy season for subsequent recovery.
Diversifying raw water sources is important for water supply reliability. With respect to costs of treatment, the treatment of brackish groundwater sources is more costly than for surface water. With respect to availability, surface waters are more readily available during the summer rainy season as opposed to the winter dry season when seasonal populations and water demands are at their highest. An aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system allows for the storage of surface water during the rainy season, when it’s more readily available, and recovery of that water during the dry season, when demands are at their highest. Further, ASR systems allow for resting of groundwater sources, which is important for their stability, and to promote Preservation of Environment and Natural Resources by offsetting use of limited and energy intensive groundwater resources.
Since the project’s inception in 1998, changes in regulations and regulatory direction in permitting have affected all ASR well projects across the state. Although North Port’s ASR project has been lengthy, due in part to regulatory challenges, there are great potential benefits to having an ASR system. ASR wells remain one of the best options for increasing the year-round reliability of water availability in Florida. The final report of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Senate Bill (SB) 536 Study includes recommendations for assisting in overcoming some of the uncertainty, impediments, and constraints that hinder the development of ASR projects. The recommendations include revising current regulations to allow more permitting options for ASR facilities.
ASR projects are complex multi-year projects that include several phases including feasibility study, design and permitting, well construction, cycle testing, and startup and monitoring and in some instances, require more than one phase to put the well into service and obtain an operating permit.
SWFWMD has finalized a First Amendment to the Cooperative Funding Agreement No. 17CF00000449 between the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and the City of North Port for “Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Permanent Facilities” to recognize the increase in estimated costs for the project, to include a new section for “Scrutinized Companies” as now required under Florida Statute 287.135 and to acknowledge a time extension requested by the City for Cycle Test 6. Maintaining this continued funding for this project was a significant achievement. The SWFWMD funded portion of the amended agreement remains at $340,000. Legal has approved the agreement as to form, understanding the agreement reflects the City Attorney’s signature block being struck through and written in as Amber Slayton as the City Attorney and staff is recommending approval of the First Amendment to the Cooperative Funding Agreement.
Strategic Plan
Preservation of Environment and Natural Resources
Financially Responsible City Providing Quality Municipal Services
Maintained/Upgraded/Expanded City Infrastructure
Financial Impact
Approving this agreement will allow the City to continue to receive grant funds in the amount of $340,000 from SWFWMD upon completion of specific tasks as called for in the agreement.
Procurement
Attachments:
1. First Amendment to the Agreement
Prepared by: Jennifer Desrosiers
Department Director: Richard Newkirk