This plan is consistent with the Comprehensive Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan for Monroe County (CH2MHILL, 2000) in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) guidelines under PL 92-500 and the Monroe County Year 2010 Comprehensive Plan. This facility’s plan has been adopted by the KLWTD to guide the design and construction of the KLWTD wastewater infrastructure.

Initially, the Monroe County Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan collection system alternatives were re-evaluated using updated materials, quantities, and current unit prices. It was determined that in most areas, vacuum collection systems are the most cost effective method for wastewater collection. In some remote areas, however, a gravity collection system that pumps directly into the US1 force main is the most economical alternative. The large number of service basins which would each require a separate wastewater treatment facility, disposal wells, land acquisition, and licensed operator makes a centralized wastewater treatment and disposal facility the most practical and affordable alternative. This conclusion is similar to that reached in the Monroe Count Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan.

The Plan

This proposed project provides an affordable long term solution to meeting the 2010 wastewater treatment goals. To determine the best approach, various technologies and various configurations of service areas were examined. The Key Largo Wastewater Treatment District (KLWTD) service area is defined as the north end of the Florida Keys at the Dade County line (approximately: US1 mile marker 124) extending south and westward to Tavernier Creek (approximately: US1 mile marker 91) and includes the properties to the east of US 1 along County Road 905 up to but not including the community of Ocean Reef. The remote, sparsely populated areas north and east of mile marker 106.5 will be served by a decentralized sewer system. The remaining area from mile marker 106.5 south to mile marker 91 are to be served by central wastewater treatment plant located at mile marker 100.5. This area is the overall service area addressed in this facility’s plan. The Monroe County Comprehensive Sanitary Wastewater Master Plan divides this area into Planning Area Analysis/ Enumeration Districts (PAED’s). The KLWTD area includes PAED 15 through PAED 20. Portions of PAED 17, 18, 19 and 20 have already been completed. The entire service area is shown in figure 1-1, individual service area maps follow in figures 1-2 through 1-12. The PAED areas have been further subdivided into lettered service basins including A through K. These sub-basins will be the basis of cost estimating for this document.