Bay County is working on a long-range strategy for identifying and implementing projects that will improve water quality and conservation. In cooperation with Gulf Power Company, Bay County has identified a reuse project from the NBWWTF to Gulf Power’s Lansing Smith Power Plant, as a way to provide reclaimed water to Plant Smith for beneficial reuse.

Currently, the Gulf Power Lansing Smith Power Plant is permitted to draw water from North Bay as its source for cooling water, which is discharged back to North Bay upon completing the cooling process. Bay County’s NBWWTF produces a treated wastewater effluent that is discharged to coastal groundwater through rapid infiltration basins (RIBS). By making reclaimed water available for cooling, the surface water discharged into North Bay will be reduced and ultimately eliminated, as will the wastewater effluent discharge from NBWWTF. This project will reduce or eliminate associated environmental impacts to North Bay, St. Andrews Bay, and the groundwater system; reduce regulatory water quality requirements; reduce future treatment plant capital costs; and provide additional revenue in the retail wastewater system.

Bay County has secured a $1,000,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and a $500,000 grant from Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) towards the North Bay Wastewater Reuse line project. Bay County also anticipates receiving approximately $1,500,000 from RESTORE Pot 1 grant funds. The FDEP grant includes design services.

Attached, as Exhibit 1, is the agreement between Bay County and Gulf Power to design the North Bay Reuse Line from the North Bay Waste Water Treatment Facility (NBWWTF) to the Gulf Power Lansing Smith Plant.