Lake Worth, county, ink 40-year water agreement

By John Johnston
Managing Editor

Palm Beach County commissioners have approved a 40-year agreement, providing up to two million gallons per day of drinking water to the City of Lake Worth – and, if needed, the city can buy up to four million more, commissioners said.

The agreement will cost a one-time fee of $6 million, plus a usage fee of $1.37 per one thousand gallons. Commissioners said the county and city would share the cost of installing new connecting lines, which can be used to service other PBC Water Utilities customers. The term of the agreement is 40 years, renewable every five years. After 10 years, the city may terminate with a five-year notice, commissioner said.

Other Business

In other recent business commissioners

• Approved a $2.1 million unit price contract with AKA Services, Inc. for the Water Utilities Department continuing construction contract to install potable water, reclaimed water, and wastewater pipelines over a twelve (12) month term. This contract will be used to expedite utility special assessment projects and other pipeline projects where timing is critical, commissioners said.  The contract award is for the base contract only, and the contract by itself does not guarantee nor authorize AKA Services to perform any work.  Work will be assigned by formal work authorizations drawn against this contract, commissioners said.

mended an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), increasing by $750,000 the county’s reimbursement in the Capital Outlay Fund, for projects within the Chain of Lakes System. The FDEP agreement will reimburse $750,000 of these costs and requires a $750,000 cost share through a combination of match and in-kind funds, commissioners said. The FDEP agreement will reimburse $367,692 for Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works Department (Towns of Cloud Lake and Glen Ridge Infrastructure Improvements); $240,000 for Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management (Lake Ida Restoration Project); $75,000 for Chain of Lakes Monitoring Studies, and $67,308 for grant administration.  Commissioners said the agreement is part of the State legislature’s disbursement of funds for restoring and protecting surface waters of the state. 

.