BELLEAIR BEACH - The Pinellas County Utilities reclaimed water project is scheduled for completion April 2006. An announcement of a more realistic completion date from Pinellas County Utilities is being awaited.
Reid Silverboard Belleair Beach city manager said, "Unfortunately, they are still behind on the county project. We're continuing to monitor their progress and urge them to complete work as soon as possible."
Pete Cavalli, Belleair Beach Administrative Services Coordinator said, "Currently they are preparing to repave after getting compaction. In addition they are doing pavement and landscape restoration."
Cavalli explained that the project will not be as intrusive when it reaches the busy intersection of Causeway and Gulf Blvd. He said, "Next they will be going to the causeway intersection where they will be doing underground boring."
The project is three fold and has entailed that the asphalt overlay on Gulf Boulevard in the work zone area be removed in order for the contractor to install the well points which are needed to lower the water table.
The contractor for the project, Rockdale Pipeline, is installing the reclaimed transmission main down the center of Gulf Blvd from 1st Street North to Sand Key. A drain line drive-over structure was installed to minimize inconvenience to vehicles traveling in the work zone.
Construction and installation of the reclaimed water trunk line was organized into 1500 feet work zones, beginning in the southern portion of the City. Sedimentation barriers were placed in storm drain inlets in areas being worked in.
In conjunction with the reclaimed water line, a sanitary sewer force main is being installed in the same trench as the reclaimed water infrastructure. The main will be replaced from the border of Indian Rocks Beach to 7th Street and down to the 7th Street wastewater pumping station.
Also, existing galvanized iron pipe is being replaced with PVC pipe. Approximately 300 potable water service boxes will be replaced as part of the project.
The project manager from Pinellas County Utilities referred inquiries from The Clearwater Gazette to the director of the county's alternative water resources department, who was unavailable for commenting on this article.