New Rapid Infiltration Basin (RIB) Disposal System Project

Overview

Okaloosa County is implementing a program to construct the new 10 mgd Arbennie Pritchett WRF to replace the existing 6.5-mgd Garniers WWTP.  Currently, treated effluent from the Garniers WWTP is sprayed onto about 540 acres of restricted access spray fields that are permitted by FDEP.  The Garniers Spray Field is located on 670 acres of Eglin Air Force Base that is licensed to the County for this use.  OCWS has utilized this property for effluent disposal for more than 30 years. 

Once the new Arbennie Pritchett WRF is operational, treated effluent from this plant will be conveyed to the Garniers Spray Field property and discharged into new rapid infiltration basins (RIBs) for disposal.  The new RIBs will be located on 200 acres of the existing 670 acre spray field site.  A 30-year lease was negotiated between the County and the Air Force for 255 acres to allow the construction and operation of the RIBS, as well as the new WRF.  Once the new WRF and RIBs are operational, the County will return nearly 415 acres of the spray field to the Air Force.

Okaloosa County Water and Sewer (OCWS) Department staff is self-performing 100 percent of the construction of the new RIBs using County-owned and leased equipment.  This is the largest construction project ever performed by Okaloosa County staff and certainly one of the largest municipally self-performed construction projects in the state of Florida.  The County projects that by directly purchasing the materials and equipment and by self-performing the construction of the new RIBs, they can realize a total project savings of nearly 40 percent.  More importantly, the County can control the schedule of the project and minimize adverse affects on other program components; can control the quality of the construction; and finally, can manage change more efficiently.

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