The district is refusing to allow delays for its $10M well project.

By Hillary Copsey
staff writer
October 10, 2004

PORT ST. LUCIE — After hurricanes slowed the drilling of three new wells, the St. Lucie West Services District is refusing to allow more delays in efforts to increase the area's water supply.

The $10 million project will draw water from three wells under construction, filter it, then inject the removed impurities back into a 3,300-foot-deep disposal well.

In its quest for speed, the district hired All Webb's Enterprises of Jupiter to drill the injection well, despite concerns from another bidder for the job, Youngquist Brothers Inc.

Youngquist protested the district's choice because All Webb's didn't name its subcontractors, District Operations Director Charles Sweat said. But subcontractors make up just $70,000 of a $3 million job, he added — not enough to merit new bids and a delay.

The district's water system is operating at capacity because of community growth. During the storms, the district bought 80,000 gallons of water from Port St. Lucie as a precautionary measure.

"We need it like yesterday," District Chairman Joe Teneriello said. "We're not running out of water now, but why even take the risk?"

If the new system is not in place by mid-May, the district "will encounter serious difficulties in meeting potable water demand," Sweat told the services district board this week. "It is critical to move forward with the project as soon as possible as to not jeopardize the health and welfare of the citizens of St. Lucie West."

With the drilling under way and the injection well soon to be started, the project is "pretty close to being on schedule," Sweat said.

- hillary.copsey@scripps.com

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