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02-18-1982 Workshop Meeting e CITY OF CLERMONT e MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING February 18, 1982 A Workshop Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held on February 18, 1982 in the Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following Councilmen in attendance: Mayor Hoskinson, Michael Conley, Robert Pool, Dennis Thomas, and Hal Turville. Other City Officials present were City Manager Forbes and Utilities Director Preston Davis. RAPID INFILTRATION DISPOSAL OF EFFLUENT City Manager George Forbes explained that the City of Clermont has been re- searching for the past eight years for a method of disposing of its second- ary treated effluent. The City has studied various methods of wetlands disposal but has been unsuccessful in convincing the regulatory agencies or the public that this is a viable alternative. For this reason, in 1980, the City made a decision to go to a landspreading method and acquired an option on sixty-five acres of citrus grove on the west side of Hooks Road; approximately 2600' south of State Road 50. The City then analyzed the most cost effective method of landspreading which includes low rate or traditional methods with a hay crop, and a rapid rate landspreading system. Rapid rate landspreading involves the use of irriga- tion basins that are filled with effluent and then percolate through the soil. The remaining area could then be utilized as a citrus grove. The City believed that rapid infiltration would have several advantages over a traditional landspreading method in that: 1. The citrus grove could be maintained in a productive status. 2. Low-lift pumps could be used which are very energy efficient. 3. Water maintenance would be minimal and water moving through the soil profile would help irrigate the trees. Bud Sampson of Springstead and Associates*, gave a report on the feasibility of the rapid infiltration system. The City Engineer was authorized on September 22, 1981 to determine the feasibility of using the rapid rate land- spreading method of disposing of effluent. Mr. Sampson stated that twenty- one auger borings were made on our proposed landspreading site to determine soil characteristics. A water infiltration test was also conducted by con~ structing a test pit 100' x 5' on the site with piezometers installed at regular intervals. An engine driven pump was set up to supply water to the test site through aluminum irrigation pipes. Water was then pumped into the pit for an eight-nine hour pumping period. A flow meter reading indicated a total of 147,970 gallons were applied to the pit. As a result of the apparent success of the infiltration test, it was decided to investigate the soil conditions over a larger area and at a greater depth. American Testing Laboratories, Inc. was retained to take the necessary split spoon samples, permeability tests, and perform hydrogeologic analysis and suitability assessment for this site. The results of this work show the site as being a mound of relatively impervious material overlayed with a mantle of highly permeable sand; having a depth of from 5' - 9'. The effluent applied to the site will travel in a downhill direction within this layer of sand. The ability of this sand to transmit water determines the amount of effluent that can be applied without emerging through the surface. American Testing Laboratories found that the rapid infiltration method of landspreading con- centrates the effluent in small areas and will exceed the ability of the sand layer on this site to transmit the amount of water (600,000 gdp) required by our treatment plant. A slow rate application to the entire site would use the water transmitting capacity of the entire sand layer. For this reason, the City Engineer recommends that they proceed with the design *John Springstead of Springstead and Associates is the City Engineer. e CITY OF CLERMONT e MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING February 18, 1982 Page -2- and construction of a slow rate landspreading facility. He explained that the crucial problem is the distance of the clay layer from the surface of our site. If the clay layer were 10' - 18' below the sand; it might be possible to utilize this site as an irrigation system. Councilman Bob Pool asked may questions regarding the possibility of utilizing this site for slow rate landspreading with citrus as a cover crop instead of hay. City Engineer John Springstead explained that citrus would only be feasible at the very top of the hill at the site, since the rest of the site would be constantly saturated with water and the trees would die. He also explained that the purpose of the cover crop was to decrease the amount of nutrients and that Coastal Bermuda was a much more efficient crop for denitrification than citrus. The difficulty of using a non aerosol irrigation system for citrus was also discussed. After much discussion, it was the concensus of the City Council that this matter be brought up be- fore the City Council at their February 23, 1982 meeting for formal action on this matter. It was the concensus of the Council that the City will utilize a low rate landspreading method with hay as the cover crop. STUDY ON CAPACITY OF WASTE TREATMENT PLANT City Manager George Forbes spoke of his concern that the City study the feasibility of increasing the capacity of the waste treatment plant. He explained that the plant has a design capacity of 600,000 gallons per day, and is already operating at 80% of its peak capacity. He stated that based on the City's projections; the plant may be at capacity in 1986, and the City must plan now for the future. At the request of the City Manager, John Springstead submitted a proposal for a study of the present waste treatment plant to determine the most feasible method of increasing the plant's capacity to meet future needs. He stated that the City could conduct a study that will include an analysis of the present plant, flow equalization, determina- tion of capacity by present day standards, recommendations for improvements, and cost estimates. The fee for this work would be $7,300.00. The City Engineer stated that the City also needs new flow measuring devices at the treatment plant. One flow meter is necessary to measure the inffluent flow and to measure the sludge return flow. He stated that approximately one year ago the City purchased two flow meters for these purposes which were relatively inexpensive. However, these flow meters were not satisfactory and were subsequently returned to the supplier. The flow meters are necessary for the study and the proper operation of the plant, and are now required by the State Department of Environmental Regulation. It was the concensus of the Council that this matter be brought before the en- tire City Council at their February 23, 1982 meeting for formal Council action. It was the concensus of the Council that Mr. Springstead be authorized to con- duct this study, and that the City would prepare specifications and take bids for the proper flow meters. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. ~~~=- J s M. Hoskinson" Mayor --'-'\.....- //" 4j{7!.,~< ' ,,\ George &. Forbes, City Manager F;0t. ().(J ~--