Innerarity Island Septic to Sewer Project
In 2014, a court order required Escambia County to become the receiver of the abandoned Innerarity Island water and sewer utilities. The water system has been updated and turned over to ECUA, but the sewer system is in need of significant upgrades. To mitigate the issues, Escambia County entered into an inter-local agreement with ECUA to implement the
Innerarity Island Sewer Project.
Some homes on Innerarity Island currently utilize a septic tank for wastewater treatment. Those with septic tanks will have the option to connect to a newly constructed low-pressure sewer system. Unlike a gravity connection, a small private pump would be located on the property to pump wastewater into the low-pressure transmission system. Wastewater from the property would flow to an ECUA lift station located on the island for further transmission to ECUA’s wastewater treatment facility.
Escambia County is offering the opportunity to transfer from existing residential septic systems to this new low-pressure sewer system. Participating in the project now will allow residents to avoid future out-of-pocket expenses. Those residents participating will have as part of the sewer project, a contractor/plumber to properly mitigate their existing septic tank, install a new grinder pump, and connect to the new low-pressure sewer line.
If the resident decides not to transfer over to the new low-pressure system at this time, they can remain on their septic system until they apply for a building permit or the septic tank needs service. At that time, the Florida Department of Health in Escambia may require a transfer to the low-pressure system. If so, the resident would then be financially responsible to purchase a grinder pump, hire a plumber to install and connect to the system, and pay any sewer tap or connection fee to ECUA as required.
Our consultant is currently working through design plans and expect to have final plans in April 2019.
Innerarity Island residents with an existing septic tank are asked to indicate their preference by Thursday, Feb. 28 so their property can be included in the construction plans as needed.
An informational meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28 at
Perdido Bay United Methodist Church. Innerarity Point Island residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about the project.