News

By Jane Smith

Barrier island residents may see some water-related changes starting in October after Boynton Beach passes its $91.1 million budget.
Condo residents of four complexes south of Woolbright Road in Ocean Ridge will be part of a $400,000 request to study how their aging septic systems can connect with Boynton Beach’s wastewater system, according to Joe Paterniti, interim utilities director.
Paterniti made his department’s budget presentation July 17 at the Boynton Beach budget workshop.
The force main would go under the Intracoastal Waterway to serve condo communities along State Road A1A, Paterniti said.
The complexes involved are Ocean Ridge Yacht Club, Crown Colony Club, Colonial Ridge Club and Turtle Beach Club.
In addition, Boynton Beach has developed a master plan for its water reuse system, said Colin Groff, assistant city manager who used to be the utilities department director.
About 60 big water customers indicated they are interested in having the reuse water to use for irrigation, Groff said. Most of these are on the west side of the Intracoastal, he said.
Two likely clients on the east side of the ICW are golf courses at The Little Club in Gulf Stream and the St. Andrews Club in Boynton Beach.
“Between October and January, we’ll contact them again to make sure they are still interested,” Groff said.
The reuse irrigation pipes would be installed under Federal Highway to coincide with the Florida Department of Transportation’s repaving project, he said at the July 17 budget workshop.
The pipes would then cross under the Intracoastal at the Boynton Beach-owned Jaycee Park.
The two golf courses may have to wait a year to get the reused water.
“We may have to build a pump station on the west side of the Intracoastal to supply condo complexes in Boynton Beach that want to have the reuse water for irrigation,” Groff said.
The four-year project is estimated to cost $8 million, Groff said.
Boynton Beach also is proposing a 2.2 percent rate increase for its water customers in Ocean Ridge, Briny Breezes and the County Pocket. That increase also will take effect in October.