Wastewater Division

Distribution Facility

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The Innovative Reuse System

The citrus irrigation and rapid infiltration basin reuse methods complement each other.  Citrus irrigation provides beneficial reuse without costly land acquisition.  Rapid infiltration basins provide reuse capacity when irrigation demand is low.  Both systems provide the added benefit of recharging the Florida aquifer.

The citrus irrigation system currently provides reclaimed water to about 8,000 acres and will ultimately serve between 12,000 and 15,000 acres.  A key environmental benefit of the system is the conservation of our freshwater supply.  Without reclaimed water, these thousands of acres would continue to be irrigated with groundwater from wells on each grower's property.

The project also aids the agricultural community, which has recently suffered from diminished rainfall, damaging freezes, and more stringent groundwater use restrictions.  Benefits to the growers include a dependable water supply for irrigation and freeze protection, potential reduced fertilization due to nutrients in the reclaimed water, and reduced energy costs because the water is delivered under pressure.

The rapid infiltration basin system consists of 60 individual basins, each about 300 to 400 feet long and 150 feet wide.  The reclaimed water percolates rapidly through the underlying sands, which range in depth from 30 to 200 feet.  This sand layer provides additional filtration before the reclaimed water reaches the aquifer to replenish the freshwater supply.

The rapid infiltration basins are distributed over four different sites covering about 1,600 acres of freeze-damaged citrus groves and open land in an area of groundwater recharge.

Instead of the traditional rectangular shape, the basins are curved to maintain the existing landform and natural character of the gently rolling landscape.

An extensive reforestation program was designed to return the area to its pre-citrus, forest-like state. Between 500,000 and 600,000 seedlings and shrubs have been planted, including long-leaf pines, turkey oaks, pawpaws, gopher apples, and other native species.  The reforested land attracts wildlife once common to the area.

The City of Orlando/Orange County water reuse project has become a benchmark for other communities faced with a water reclamation challenge.  The program demonstrates how cooperative efforts between the urban and agricultural communities can result in water reuse projects that effectively satisfy the water-related needs of all.

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