The conversion from a septic system and supply of potable water in Estero is a collective effort that faces many challenges. In some places, the Village will also install fire hydrants. It’s crucial to understand that while the Village of Estero does not own or control potable water (drinkable), reclaimed water, or the sanitary sewer system, our community plays a vital role in ensuring efficient use and maintenance. This underscores the active participation of our community in the Utilities Expansion Program and its significance.
For most new communities in the area over the past 20 years, the developer was required to install a sanitary sewer system with lift stations within the community from each home and building. Using the fire code, the developer also had to install potable water service and fire hydrants in each home. The developer typically had a blank slate to install utilities and did not require right-of-way acquisition or land leases.
The Village of Estero, unlike most new communities in the area over the past 20 years, did not have the luxury of a blank slate for utility installation. Instead, it had to update already developed communities to have sanitary sewers, potable water, fire hydrants, roads, and stormwater management. This unique and complex situation, which we all are a part of, has presented a series of challenges that require our collective support.
Under the “Village Lite” concept, the Village hires engineering, management, and research/legal firms to work on the projects. Drafting proposals, soliciting bids, evaluating bids, recommending a firm, and getting the recommendation approved by the Village Council takes time.
The three communities with package plants own their roads. This is typical with new communities where the Community Development District (CDD) or the Master Homeowners Association (HOA) owns the roads. For example, the Habitat CDD owns the roads in the Bella Terra Community. The Terra Vista Community Association, Inc., owns the roads in Terra Vista as found in the Limited Electrical Energy Producers Act (LEEPA), RSA Chapter 362-A. LEEPA https://gissvr.leepa.org/geoview2/?FolioID=10583991). In other communities, some require utility expansion, and it is unclear who owns the road. Sherrill Lane and Luettich Lane show no ownership in LEEPA. The question arises: can the Village of Estero spend government funds on private property?
Lee County Utilities’ potable water and sanitary sewer pipelines were unavailable near some conversion areas. This requires right-of-way acquisition on county and state roads, which includes installing pipelines to and within the community.
Besides installing sanitary sewer pipelines, lift stations (sometimes called pump stations) are required to move the effluent. Unlike up north, where many sewer pipes rely on gravity, which does not work in flat SW Florida, lift stations are required. They may be as small as the picture to the left (required for the Estero Historical Society, https://esterohistoricalsociety.com/) or as big as the picture below. The fenced lift stations are typically 20’ by 20’.
As a point of reference, for Bella Terra, a community of 1899 homes, Lee County Utilities maintains seven sewage lift stations. The lift stations move the effluent from the back of the community to the front and into the sewer lines on Corkscrew Rd. Three lift stations have diesel generators for operation when the electricity is out.
“On June 16, 2021, The Village Council approved a contract with Woodard & Curran to manage the expansion of utilities within the Village to reduce the number of package wastewater treatment plants and septic tanks in the Village. The proposed contract with Tetra Tech will provide design and permitting services for the first three utility expansion projects. The projects include Estero Bay Village, Sunny Groves, and Cypress Bend.”
One of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects of the utilities expansion process is the various easement requirements. This process, which involves every landowner and their access to the proposed roadway, is extraordinarily complex and lengthy. It’s important to note that the Village cannot begin the construction process until all easements are agreed upon and in place, which may lead to potential delays.
Below is the Village of Estero’s agreement with Koreshan State Park to install a sewer force main across the state park property.
“Easements shall be limited to the installation, operation, and maintenance of an underground sewer force main upon and across the Easement Area during the term of this easement. This easement shall be non-exclusive. GRANTOR retains the right to engage in any activities on, over, below or across the Easement Area which do not unreasonably interfere with GRANTEE’S exercise of this easement and further retains the right to grant compatible uses to third parties during the term of this easement.”
Lee County Board of County Commissioners approved the installation of a sewer force main across the state park property on April 16th, 2024.
“ …. A Utility Easement grant to the County is required to construct the sewer force mains to serve the lift stations. Granted by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida, Utility Easement No. 33509 will be located across three (3) parcels of land within Koreshan State Park. The Utility Easement will remain in effect for fifty (50) years with maintenance responsibilities to the County. There is no cost to the County for the easement other than recording fees, estimated to be $150. The Village of Estero will pay the state $9,000 as part of the utility project.”
The Village investigated an easement under the 100’ wide Seminole Railroad, and the cost was shocking and prohibitive!
In a July 2023 Council meeting, the Village approved a contract to negotiate a land lease to cross the Estero River.
The Village of Estero contracted with Tetra Tech, Inc. on September 22, 2021, to design and permit the extension of public utilities to the Estero Bay Village, Sunny Grove, and Cypress Bend communities. Sunny Grove is located on the west side of US 41, just north of the Estero River. The closest existing sewer force main is located along the north side of Corkscrew Road. The proposed force main will cross under the Estero River. The Estero River is considered sovereignty Submerged Land, which means the State of Florida owns it. Any crossing over or under the river requires approval by the State and a sovereignty submerged lands lease.
Tetra Tech, Inc. prepared the plans for permitting and construction of the sanitary sewer force main and applied to the State for the necessary permit to cross the Estero River.
At the November 8th, 2022, Village Council meeting a contract was approved to evaluate the pipes for the three package plants.
“The Village of Estero currently permits infrastructure to extend central sewer to the Estero Bay Village, Sunny Grove, and Cypress Bend communities. Lee County Utilities will provide utility service after construction is complete. Lee County Utilities requires sewer testing to determine the condition of the existing gravity sewer infrastructure within each community. The testing will determine if groundwater or stormwater leaks into the sewer system. If excessive leaking is detected, pipe repairs could be required.”
Approve award of Request for Bids No. RFB 2022-03, Gravity Sewer Smoke testing, Cleaning, and CCTV Testing for Estero Bay Village, Sunny Grove, and Cypress Bend to National Water Main Cleaning Company to provide the sewer testing and cleaning services as provided in the contract at a grand total cost of $85,885. Also approve a contingency fund amount of $8,500 (an amount equal to 10% of the total project cost) to cover unforeseen circumstances which may occur.”
Banks Engineering published its design and provided a rough estimate of the total cost for each phase and a rough estimate of the individual cost for each homeowner. The contract results, released in late 2021, identified the costs at $70M. With the cost of everything increasing, a better estimate today is $100M. Individual homeowner costs ranged up to $70k each, and an additional $3k to hook up from the road to their house. An unknown cost is cleaning up the current septic system, filling it in, and capping the well. The cost of everything is increasing!
A Gantt chart and discussion of timing will be provided in a future report. Unfortunately, homeowners’ and property owners’ concerns are the timing of this conversion effort. If they build now, they must install a septic system and drill a well (if there is no potable water). These two requirements could cost between $25 and $40k. Then they worry that when the sanitary sewer and potable water are installed on their street, they will be required to hook up, costing between $35 and $70k. This puts many residents in a catch-22 situation. Residents need a schedule and/or timeline to decide!
This list of challenges is not all-inclusive but an opportunity to provide the reader with a sampling of challenges to a major undertaking – converting homeowner septic systems to sanitary sewer systems and providing potable water instead of wells.
The information in this article was researched by Mark Novitski and James Root, Consultants to Engage Estero and Allan Bowditch Chief Communications Officer.
