NewsTreasure CoastRegion St Lucie CountyPort St Lucie

Actions

Port St. Lucie city leaders break ground on water quality project

Posted at 8:23 PM, Dec 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-12-13 04:54:16-05

Lots of politicians have lots of big ideas on lots of issues.

On the Treasure Coast, leaders there are celebrating a small solution to a big problem, water quality.

In Fort Pierce, Byron Hendershot and Brad Vega with Carefree Boat Club say water woes have already impacted their bottom line.

"Affects every aspect of the business. People don't want to get in the water," said Vega.

They're always asking where the solutions are.

Port St. Lucie city leaders broke ground on their McCarty Ranch Extension Water Quality Project. It's a nearly 2,000 acre facility designed for restoration and storage.

It will reduce discharges from the C23 Canal into the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.

"It will create a 21 percent impact to our river, so it's a win-win from both sides. Not only are we helping the river, but we're also helping our residents," said city utilities director Jesus Merejo.

The city has also completed other projects such as carrying out one of the largest septic tank conversion program in the country.