Sustainability Initiatives
We manage approximately 10 million gallons of fresh drinking water and 5 million gallons of wastewater effluent every day. This operation comes with a responsibility to use those resources as efficiently and economically as possible, while providing the highest level of financial and environmental sustainability to our members and community. Through innovative rate structures, resource recovery, and resiliency in our utility systems, we effectively deliver water to our members and process and reuse wastewater through our water reclamation facilities – all while protecting the integrity of our water supply.
Water. Maintaining clean, safe and reliable water for our members and ecosystems is crucial to everything we do as a water utility.
Each year, we perform hundreds of water quality tests to ensure that the drinking water we provide meets or exceeds the standards set forth in the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act. These results are published in our Annual Drinking Water Quality Report to provide transparency to our members.
Reducing how much water is pulled from potable sources and how much wastewater reenters the environment are key factors in sustainable water management. In 2020, we hired a conservation & sustainability specialist to oversee associated utility efforts, develop community education programs and manage our rebate programs to promote sustainability goals and increase conservation efforts and awareness.
Energy and Emissions. We acknowledge the importance of clean energy and emissions control and are committed to playing a significant role in reducing our carbon footprint.
Compressed natural gas (CNG)
The utility reduces tailpipe emissions, also known as greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), by 20-25% by powering the large majority of our service vehicle fleet with CNG instead of gasoline. By using CNG, BSU also reduces carbon monoxide emissions by approximately 90%. Following Hurricane Irma, a second backup generator was installed at our water plants fueled by CNG.
FPL Solar Together
Through this program, FPL is allocating a portion of one of its solar facilities to power production for the utility based on actual usage. After a higher initial cost, this program will reduce BSU energy costs, achieve sustainability goals, and offset up to 100% of our energy usage with renewable energy over a period of time.
Recycling
BSU recycles materials that are beneficial to the environment. Recycling may also generate funds that benefit our members. Listed below are just a few of the ways we do our part:
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- Sell reclaimed water (wastewater effluent) for golf course and landscape irrigation.
- Reuse of wastewater biosolids sold as a fertilizer supplement.
- Purchased a compactor that bales unneeded cardboard that we then sell to a recycler.
- All leftover metal, iron, old motors, copper wire, etc. is taken to a scrap yard and sold.
- Landscape debris is mulched and reused at our facilities.
Energy Recovery Devices
In 2012, BSU installed Energy Recovery Devices (ERDs) at the utility. ERDs are commonly used in Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems to recover waste energy in the rejected concentrate flow stream, especially in high pressure seawater desalination systems. Besides recovering energy and reducing power costs, ERDs can also be used to “flux balance” a multi-stage system for improved overall performance. At BSU, ERDs are used to reduce power consumption and balance flux rates (without the need for stage 1 permeate throttling).
The most common types of ERDs are classified as: (1) centrifugal and (2) isobaric. Centrifugal ERDs use rotating impellers (turbines) to recover energy from the RO concentrate stream. A commonly used type of centrifugal ERD in the Unites States for high or low pressure RO systems is the hydraulic turbocharger (HTC), manufactured by Energy Recovery Inc. (ERI), which is what we use here at BSU.
The HTC has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, low energy consumption and wide application range, and achieves stable operation, low noise and high energy recovery efficiency.
Conversion of Lighting Fixtures
The majority of lighting fixtures both inside and outside our treatment facilities have been converted from high pressure sodium lamps and fluorescent bulbs to LED. LED bulbs reduce energy consumption through their superior efficiency compared to traditional bulbs. Key factors that contribute to their energy efficiency include lower heat generation, higher luminous efficacy, longer lifespan and efficient use of materials.
10/30 Aeration
Within wastewater treatment plants, the most energy-hungry stage is aeration, which employs blowers to introduce air to ensure the right conditions for aerobic biological treatment processes take place. While this is a vital step to ensure that wastewater is treated effectively, it is also an opportunity to achieve desired results while simultaneously reducing energy consumption.
By implementing 10/30 aeration at our East Water Reclamation Facility, as opposed to 10/10 aeration, fewer blowers are required to run. This reduces air consumption and saves electricity, thus resulting in reduced energy consumption.
Infrastructure. We complete impactful projects, large and small, through our various initiatives and our Capital Improvement Plan.
Water Supply Sustainability and Good Water Quality
Water Supply Sustainability and Good Water Quality are central to our mission. This is of particular concern in fast-growing Southwest Florida. Since 2004, diversification into reverse-osmosis (RO) is helping to preserve and protect water quality in the shallow aquifer that feeds our lime-softening treatment plant. In 2023, we completed a 4-million-gallon-per-day expansion of the RO plant to increase supply and operational reliability. Our two water treatment processes are currently permitted to produce up to 17 million gallons per day of water for our customers.
Wellfield Expansion
Wellfield Water Supply
In our ongoing efforts to secure a sustainable water supply, significant improvements have been made to our wellfield infrastructure. In 2023, we replaced pumps and motors at two wells in the East Wellfield and conducted maintenance on several wells in the Brackish Wellfield to enhance efficiency and reliability. Looking ahead, we are expanding our water supply system with the installation of new wells, including 11 additional brackish wells currently under construction and expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Water Treatment Facilities
We have implemented key upgrades to improve both capacity and performance at our water treatment facilities. In 2023, we completed the five-year cleaning and inspection of all seven ground storage tanks and increased our reverse osmosis (RO) production by 50%, with the addition of two new 2-million-gallon-per-day (MGD) RO membrane trains. Additionally, BSU replaced select vessels on three of the existing RO membrane trains, installed a new RO Floridan aquifer raw flow meter and expanded building space with upgraded flooring and contaminant coatings. Lime-softening facility improvements included new gravity filtration piping, valves, surface wash pumps, backwash pumps and isolation valving to support future system upgrades. An advanced odor control system further increased our water treatment capacity and operational resilience.
Water Storage, Pumping and Distribution Facilities
In 2023, we added 0.49 miles of distribution pipe and six fire hydrants. This expansion is part of our water main replacement program, which has been ongoing since 2013. The program is designed to replace aging infrastructure, increase line sizes and enhance fire protection coverage throughout the service area.
Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Systems
As part of our commitment to maintaining efficient wastewater and reclaimed water systems, we evaluated 15.61 miles of gravity sewer in 2023. These efforts ensure the continued reliability and performance of our wastewater infrastructure, aligning with our long-term goals for sustainable water management.
Water and Wastewater Renewal & Replacement
In 2023, we undertook significant renewal and replacement projects to improve the reliability and performance of our water and wastewater systems.
Potable Water
At our Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Lime Softening (LS) Water Treatment Plants (WTPs), key upgrades were implemented to enhance water quality and operational efficiency. These included the replacement of gravity filter effluent turbidimeters and finished water turbidity monitoring equipment, as well as the installation of a new pH probe to optimize chloramination and disinfection processes. Adjustments were also made to water chemistry at both plants for improved treatment performance. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, we replaced damaged electrical equipment and pumps to restore full functionality. Additionally, the 4.0 MGD expansion of the WTP brought the installation of a new flow meter, raw water booster pump station, clearwell, two additional RO trains and cartridge filters.
Wastewater and Reclaimed Water
At the West Water Reclamation Facility (WWRF), numerous upgrades were made in 2023, including the installation of new bar screens, gearboxes for the grit chambers and oxidation ditches, and the replacement of check valves, operational valves and flow meters at the return activated sludge pad #2. We also replaced chlorine pumps, added new flow meters and installed a conditioning pump at the master lift station. Additionally, inoperable gates at the headworks were replaced to enhance the facility’s overall efficiency. The East Water Reclamation Facility (EWRF) saw improvements such as the replacement of anoxic tank mixers and channel mixers, installation of a new effluent pump and the addition of new switchgear and generator batteries. We also replaced the motor on the fine screen conveyor, rebuilt the headworks screen and enhanced the membrane bioreactor (MBR) area with new air compressors and eco drains.
Additional Activities
As part of our broader renewal efforts, our team modified the piping associated with the recuperative thickening system at the EWRF, allowing it to resume operations and improve the handling of waste-activated sludge in preparation for biosolids drying.
Waste and Resources. We utilize waste as a resource to minimize our footprint, increase revenue, reduce costs and contribute to the circular economy.
In the early 1990s, BSU installed a backbone grid of force mains, allowing over 40 “package” wastewater treatment plants to be taken out of service. Instead of a bunch of small, and often unreliable package plants, our area was connected to a large, centralized system that was much more efficient.
BSU continued efforts to protect local waterways by initiating a ten-year gravity expansion program in 1995 to replace septic tanks with central sewer service. Septic tank drain fields leach nutrients and wastewater into the soil and eventually into local waterways. By treating wastewater more efficiently, and using the by-product for irrigation, a source of pollution is eliminated, and millions of gallons of water are saved each day.
In addition to reclaimed water, biosolids are a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process. The East Water Reclamation Facility includes a biosolids centrifuge dewatering and dryer process that produces pelletized Class AA biosolids. The pellets are then sold for use in fertilizer products. Both BSU wastewater plants send biosolids to the dryer system, resulting in 100% reuse of wastewater effluent and biosolids. BSU has operated the dryer system since 2006. Many other utilities continue to struggle with the phase out of land application of Class B biosolids on agricultural lands throughout Florida.