City, base break ground on new reuse water line project

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kelly Ogden
  • 16 SOW Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla --  16th Special Operations Wing leadership and members of the Fort Walton Beach city council broke ground for the state's $1.2 million defense infrastructure grant-funded "Project reuse water line," at the advanced wastewater treatment facility here Monday.
The project will provide reused water from Hurlburt's advanced wastewater treatment plant to both the clear-water rinse facility and the city's industrial park just outside of the old Lovejoy Road gate.

"Partnering with the military is something that the city takes pride in doing," said Mike Anderson, Fort Walton Beach mayor. "This is a big project that will help us maintain our water supply."

According to Jacqueline Lynd, 16th Civil Engineer Squadron, this project is the first step in a system that will ultimately allow for reuse of up to 1 million gallons per day of fully treated effluent from Hurlburt's advanced wastewater treatment plant. The system will provide up to 200,000 gallons per day of reuse water for the community. Reuse water will be used for irrigation on base and irrigation and industrial uses off-base.

"As this area continues to grow, there are increasing pressures on natural resources, particularly groundwater, and this project will allow the installation to take advantage of reuse water as a resource," said Ms. Lynd. "As the system is expanded in the future, the reuse water will offset drinking water currently used for irrigation and ensure Hurlburt will stay within our permit withdrawal limits for the use of groundwater from the Floridian Aquifer."

"Water is the resource of the future and we are fortunate in the fact that we have finally made it to the milestone of breaking ground for the project to begin," said Col. Michael Smietana, 16th Mission Support Group commander. "This endeavor is beneficial for the base, local community and the environment."

The original grant was for approximately $1.4 million for design and construction of the reuse line.

Projected completion is slated for May 2007.