Palm River Resources & FAQs

The Palm River S2S Conversion Project is a wastewater service improvement project in the Palm River Utility Service Area that will connect businesses and property owners to safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible wastewater services. The new wastewater improvement project will allow customers on septic systems to connect to the County’s wastewater collection and treatment system (sewer service). The project includes constructing a new vacuum pump station and installing wastewater and potable water mains. The project is currently envisioned to be delivered in four phases with Phase 1 design starting mid-2024.

The Phase 1 project cost has not yet been determined since it is still early in the design process and will be influenced by future market fluctuations and global economic conditions. However, it is currently budgeted at $28 million for engineering and construction.

The Phase 1 design and permitting are anticipated to be complete by late 2025. A construction date will be developed as the final design progresses.

The Palm River S2S Conversion Project will allow customers on septic systems to connect to the County’s wastewater collection and treatment system (sewer service). Elements of the project include surveying, engineering investigations, permitting, and the design of vacuum sewer system mains, sewer service laterals, and sewage force mains.

Phase 1 of the Palm River S2S Conversion Project includes hundreds of residential and commercial properties. The project area boundaries are generally between the railroad grade on the west, 78th Street on the east, Palm River on the north, and Causeway Boulevard on the south. .

View the phase 1 boundaries in the image gallery at the bottom of the page or see a larger phase 1 map.

Septic systems work by slowly releasing wastewater through a drain field but aging or failing septic systems often do not fully treat waste. This untreated waste can migrate into nearby bays, rivers, lakes, and drinking water wells. In extreme cases, failed drain systems can result in untreated waste flooding homes and yards, creating a major health hazard. Reducing and eliminating septic systems is one way we can proactively improve and protect the health of our community and valuable waterways. Other benefits of removing septic tanks and connecting to sewer service include:

• Reduced bacterial and nutrient pollutants entering groundwater and other water bodies.
• Increased property value
• More land available for building and beautification
• Reduced waste system maintenance and odors
• Reduced waste system maintenance and odors

View the drawing in the image gallery at the bottom of the page or see a larger drawing of conventional septic system.

Based on the location of the existing lateral pipeline that connects your home to the septic tank, an appropriate location along the vacuum sewer pipeline will be selected as a connection point within the County right-of-way or easement. A new sewer lateral extension from the selected vacuum main connection point to the existing septic lateral will be installed. Once the connection to the sewer system is in service, your existing sewer lateral to the septic system will be cut and reconnected to the new sewer lateral as shown in the graphic below. You will only experience a brief interruption in wastewater service during the connection process (2-4 hours on average). Any interruption in service will be coordinated with the homeowner in advance.

View the drawing in the image gallery at the bottom of the page or see a larger version of the new sewer connection drawing.

A vacuum sewer collection system is a completely closed system that prevents wastewater exposure to the atmosphere. It has three basic components: a vacuum valve pit, vacuum pipes, and a vacuum pump station that operate together to move wastewater to a force main (pipe) where it is transported to a treatment facility. The process is described below and you can see the components illustrated in the vacuum sewer system components diagram:

• The vacuum valve pit, located in the public right of way, receives wastewater from the customer through a gravity lateral located on private property
• Once a specific amount of wastewater collects in the bottom of the vacuum valve pit, the valve opens and wastewater from the vacuum valve pit is removed by the negative pressure in the vacuum main
• The network of vacuum mains throughout the system deliver wastewater to the vacuum pump station. The contents from the vacuum mains enter the vacuum pump station at the collection tank
• All wastewater in the collection tank is pumped from the vacuum pump station to the County’s force main located in the right-of-way and transferred to the regional wastewater treatment for disposal

The Vacuum Pump Station is typically a two-story concrete building with the sewage pumps and collection tank on the first floor and the vacuum pumps and control panels on the second floor.

View the drawing in the image gallery at the bottom of the page or see a larger version of the vacuum sewer system components diagram.

No land acquisition is currently anticipated for the proposed vacuum pump station site. However, the design criteria are still preliminary, and final design requirements may change the location requirements

Although a date has not yet been determined, when construction begins, we anticipate it will generally take place Monday through Friday, with occasional night and weekend work as needed to minimize traffic disruptions.

Although a date has not yet been determined, when construction begins, we anticipate it will occur between 7 AM and 5 PM, with occasional nighttime work as needed to minimize traffic disruptions.

Decommissioning a septic system and connecting to a sewer service can increase property values, provide additional land for building and beautification, eliminate septic system maintenance costs, and reduce noxious odors. Sewer systems are also more reliable and resilient during extreme weather and sea level rise events.

Normal property access may be affected as construction progresses along the streets within the project limits. Property owners and tenants will be notified before construction affects your normal access. The contractor will work to minimize the duration of disruption and ensure an alternative access route is maintained.

Residents, businesses, property owners, and tenants located along active project areas will be notified of upcoming construction activities and associated impacts through public meetings and mail or door-hanger notifications. Updates to project activities will also be available on this project website.

You can obtain more information on the project by calling the project hotline at (813) 235-4748 or emailing the community outreach team at ProjectInfo@PalmRiverS2S.com.