SR finalizes effluent discharge offer

Since the late 1990s, Santa Rosa County, Fla., has worked to find an alternative discharge for effluent from the Navarre Beach wastewater treatment facility (WWTF). After decades, a plan to stop the discharges into Santa Rosa Sound is on the horizon. Eglin Air Force Base has proposed a lease on a 200-acre site on base property, which had previously been identified as a suitable location for Rapid Infiltration Basins for disposal of effluent from the Navarre Beach, Holley-Navarre, and South Santa Rosa Utilities WWTFs. Eglin has now completed an update to a related environmental assessment and environmental baseline survey; and is proposing a 25-year lease for either a lump sum payment ($210,000) or annual payments of $28,800 that would be subject to an annual increase of 2 percent. Payment of the lease would be funded from Navarre Beach Enterprise Fund. Santa Rosa County Commissioners will discuss approving the lease during their July 9 commission meeting. The meeting will also be available for live streaming or replay via www.santarosa.fl.gov. (Source: Santa Rosa County News 07/05/19) UPDATE: Commissioners agreed to finalize the lease at its July 11 meeting after it was sent to the consent agenda. As soon as the Secretary of the Air Force signs off on the agreement, the process will begin. (Source: Gulf Breeze News 07/11/19)