Helping Restore the Everglades
with Aquifer Recharge
ASR Project Site
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) has designed, constructed and permitted a 5 million gallon per day (mgd) ASR/Surface Water Treatment Pilot Facility located on the east bank of the Kissimmee River in Okeechobee, Florida. USACOE Jacksonville District contracted with R2T for the operation and maintenance of the facilities during cycle testing. The operation of the facility is subject to the three major permits, issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. We are currently operating the facilities in accordance with these permits, including reporting and monitoring requirements.
- National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES)
- Underground Injection Control Permit
- Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program Act Permit
The results from this facility will be one of the two sources of data used to identify the feasibility of ASR as a major component of the everglades restoration initiative.
R2T's tasks include, on-site responsibility, interaction with multiple entities and developing documents required by the multiple permit and monitoring regulations. Our on-site operators are assisting with the sampling of manganese, total coliform, turbidity and other water quality parameters as needed. In addition, treatability evaluations were conducted to optimize the treatment process to meet regulatory mandates. Parameters measured included aluminum, iron, color and organic content.
NPDES Permit–This permit regulates discharges to the environment and is primarily relevant during the recovery stage of the cycle testing and for discharges from the on-site holding/retention ponds were regulated. We are coordinating ongoing site sampling and serve as part of the team collecting samples to meet requirements. We also assisted with reporting and record keeping requirements.
Underground Injection Control Permit–We assisted with the construction and continue to support operation and reporting requirements for the ASR/treatment facilities, including monitoring and analysis of wells during each stage of the cycle testing.
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program Regulatory Act Permit–This permit authorizes the construction and cycle testing for the ASR/treatment facilities. This permit also lists other permits needed for the project, stipulates the allowed annual withdraws from the Kissimmee River (consumptive use), water quality requirements, operation and maintenance requirements, monitoring requirements and reporting requirements. To comply with this permit, we used information obtained from the mixing zone evaluation to assist with treatment system operation.
R2T's tasks include, on-site responsibility, interaction with multiple entities and developing documents required by the multiple permit and monitoring regulations. Our on-site operators are assisting with the sampling of manganese, total coliform, turbidity and other water quality parameters as needed. In addition, treatability evaluations were conducted to optimize the treatment process to meet regulatory mandates. Parameters measured included aluminum, iron, color and organic content.
NPDES Permit–This permit regulates discharges to the environment and is primarily relevant during the recovery stage of the cycle testing and for discharges from the on-site holding/retention ponds were regulated. We are coordinating ongoing site sampling and serve as part of the team collecting samples to meet requirements. We also assisted with reporting and record keeping requirements.
Underground Injection Control Permit–We assisted with the construction and continue to support operation and reporting requirements for the ASR/treatment facilities, including monitoring and analysis of wells during each stage of the cycle testing.
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program Regulatory Act Permit–This permit authorizes the construction and cycle testing for the ASR/treatment facilities. This permit also lists other permits needed for the project, stipulates the allowed annual withdraws from the Kissimmee River (consumptive use), water quality requirements, operation and maintenance requirements, monitoring requirements and reporting requirements. To comply with this permit, we used information obtained from the mixing zone evaluation to assist with treatment system operation.