Water Association says new treatment facilities are in the works

The Gasparilla Island Water Association announced its intention to replace and expand its current water treatment facilities at its annual membership meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

GIWA President Les Diaz said the existing water treatment facility is nearing the end of its useful life. Therefore, the board is reviewing options, including replacement of the existing treatment facility with a plant constructed to last 50 years.

“We have to increase the capacity of our water treatment facility, so we have installed two new deep wells. The wastewater plant also needs to be completely redone – we’re hoping that will get done within the next eight years,” Diaz said.

Initial cost estimates are around 13 million dollars.

“This capital improvement is timed to coincide with the retirement of our oldest loans that mature in 2019, which will free up cash to repay new debt but will still require some creative financing,” as explained in the annual report.

Treasurer Mike Holmes presented a fiscal report for the year 2015.