02-18-1982 Workshop Meeting
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CITY OF CLERMONT
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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.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
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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.
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J s M. Hoskinson" Mayor
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George &. Forbes, City Manager
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