$1 MILLION INVESTMENT IN MACCLENNY TO BENEFIT LITTLE ST. MARY’S RIVER

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 22, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

$1 MILLION INVESTMENT IN MACCLENNY TO BENEFIT LITTLE ST. MARY’S RIVER

~Aging wastewater system infrastructure to be replaced in Baker County~

Note: Please use this updated version.

TALLAHASSEE – Much of the city of Macclenny’s wastewater system is more than 50 years old and consists of old vitrified clay and some cast-iron pipe. It will soon be replaced thanks to a $1 million investment from the state of Florida.

“This wastewater system has reached the end of its life, and to ensure that Turkey Creek and the Little St. Mary’s River are protected, it is time to replace it,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “This is a major project and a great investment for Florida’s environment.”

"I am excited by the $1,000,000 going to the city of Macclenny for sewer system replacement," said Sen. Charlie Dean. "This project will help address an issue where, in any of our typical Florida thunderstorms, raw sewage enters our waterbodies. This is a prime example of common sense, shovel ready projects which will have immediate impacts on water quality and I look forward to it being finished. I applaud all involved for bringing this project to fruition."

“This investment will help upgrade the city of Macclenny’s dated water technology,” said Rep. Elizabeth Porter. “The old sewage system is not protective enough of public health or the environment and this replacement will change that.”

The Macclenny wastewater system replacement will involve four major components. The first is the design, permitting and construction of a pump station and force main to eliminate existing aboveground gravity sewer located in the flowline of Turkey Creek. The city will also be performing a thorough inspection of the bulk of the existing system to aid in the replacement plans. This involves inspecting 146,000 linear feet of sewers and manholes using video. 

The inspection information will lead to the third component of the project, which is planning and creating specifications for the replacement. Finally, the city will replace and rehabilitate the system. Any funding from the first three phases that is not used will be used in the replacement phase.

The project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2016.